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Yom Ha’Atzmaut flag-raising

Mayor Jim Watson, Israeli Ambassador Miriam Ziv, community leaders and many supporters of the State of Israel were on hand when the Israeli flag was raised in front of Ottawa City Hall on Yom Ha’Atzmaut, April 26.

A full report on Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebrations in Ottawa will be published in the (Photo: Michael Regenstreif) May 21 issue of the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin.

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Media bias discussed at Passover luncheon

By Diane Koven For a 10th year, the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (CFHU) provided a welcome break in the middle of the holiday with its annual Passover luncheon, held April 11 at Agudath Israel Congregation.

Unfortunately, the event was cut short when guest speaker Mike Fegelman, executive director of Honest Reporting Canada, was suddenly taken ill during his presentation.

He was hospitalized for a heart-related ailment, released and is recovering.

Fegelman had been speaking about media bias and Israel. Describing his organization’s mission and core values, Fegelman noted various biased media stories about Israel such as the infamous scandal a

decade ago surrounding an alleged massacre in the Jenin refugee camp. Reporting and repeating false reports, many media outlets perpetuated the myth of an Israeli massacre.

“The foreign press simply accepted the fraudulent accounts and did not do their due diligence,” said Fegelman. “We are trying to prevent this kind of reporting by providing correct information and, if the media do make a mistake, we try to get them to apologize and to correct the information.”

Fegelman said Honest Reporting Canada has about 30,000 members from coast to coast who monitor the media and report their findings.

“We want our members to engage in a very professional dialogue, not to just make (Continued on page 2)

Ben-Gurion film funded by Ottawa Negev Dinner scores at Seattle Jewish Film Festival

By Michael Regenstreif Ben-Gurion Hosting, a 12-minute animated film “starring” David Ben-Gurion, the State of Israel’s first prime minister, was the winner of the Seattle Jewish Film Festival’s award for Best Online Short Film.

The film was one of the projects funded by the Jewish National Fund Negev Dinner held in honour of Sara Vered at the Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa on March 22, 2010.

The film was produced by 900m Productions for the Sara and Zeev Vered Educational Area at BenGurion’s cabin home at Kibbutz Sde Boker in the Negev. It was directed by Nadav Ben-Israel and ani-

mated by the same team responsible for the Oscarnominated feature Waltz with Bashir.

In Ben-Gurion Hosting, as noted at 900mp.com, “viewers meet David Ben-Gurion in his desert home in Sde-Boker as his guests and hear his animated character, describing the main events in his life, from his childhood in Plonsk through the stages of his leadership, until his move to the Negev desert. All with special connection and passion to the Negev and his hopes he had for the Jewish people revival through the development of the desert.”

Sara Vered proudly told the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin that the success of film was a tribute to Ottawa’s Jewish community.

The animated character of David Ben-Gurion in a scene from BenGurion Hosting.

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Page 2 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

Shoah Committee Chair Mina Cohn, keynote speaker Leslie Meisels and Israeli Ambassador Miriam Ziv at Ottawa’s Yom (Photos: Peter Waiser) HaShoah commemoration, April 18.

Six memorial candles, each symbolic of one million Jews lost in the Holocaust, were lit by (from left) Tibor Egervari, Diana Andai, Raoul Korngold, Joe Lichtenstein, Elena Keen and Judy Young Drache.

Yom HaShoah marked in solemn commemoration

By Louise Rachlis Leslie Meisels weighed 75 pounds when he was liberated from Bergen-Belsen, his clothing in tatters.

But the Holocaust survivor stood strong and tall, April 18, in the filled-to-capacity social hall in the

Joseph and Rose Ages Family Building as the keynote speaker at Ottawa’s Yom HaShoah commemoration. In a powerful voice, he recalled some of the unspeakable horrors he witnessed during the darkest years of the 20th century.

Members of the Nazi Party were

cheering as the Jews were taken away from his hometown of Nadudvar, Hungary, he remembered. Hundreds of others stood silently.

“They thought they were neutral. They were not. I tell high school students that silence is not neutrality. It is support,” he said.

Honest Reporting members hold media to account for inaccuracies (Continued from page 1)

baseless allegations,” said Fegelman.

When action needs to be taken, Honest Reporting sends out emails to its members asking them to write to the appropriate authority, providing guidelines for responses. They hold the media to account and often are able to have inaccuracies corrected or retracted.

Even with its best efforts, however, Honest Reporting is not always successful. Citing a recent hour-long story on CBC Radio’s The Current about a one-state solution for Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians, Fegelman said the program was extremely onesided. Efforts to have the CBC air a balanced report fell on deaf ears, he said.

“Even their ombudsman agreed that CBC did a fair and balanced job. We respectfully disagreed.”

Fegelman said another way to combat the negative and erroneous media reports about Israel is to ensure that positive stories about Israel are widely reported.

He cited the types of research and discoveries made by such institu-

Mike Fegelman of Honest Reporting Canada speaks during the CFHU Passover luncheon, April 11, at Agudath Israel.

(Photo: Sylvia Klein)

tions as the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which are aided by CFHU. Deputy Head of Mission Eliaz Luf brought greetings from the Embassy of Israel.

“Hebrew University is very proud to have such wonderful friends, like yourselves, and like other Canadians who help the university,” said Luf. Luf said many of the great dis-

coveries and accomplishments at Hebrew University are enabled and enhanced by CFHU support and drew an analogy between the university and the holiday of Passover.

“If any of you have been to the campus, you will know how hard it is to find your way around.

When you finally find your way out, it is like you, too, are leaving Egypt,” he said.

Meisels was fortunate to come through the Holocaust with his family intact. He moved to Toronto in 1967.

“Every single survivor of the Holocaust who came out alive did so because of miracles, acts of faith or an act of God … or a combination of all three. This is also true for my family,” he said.

“The magnitude of what took place was unprecedented. Yom HaShoah is one day each year when we remember. Remembering is not only the responsibility of survivors and their relatives,” said Mina Cohn, chair of the Shoah (Holocaust) Committee of Ottawa, which organized the commemoration.

The theme for this year’s program was “the individual and the community, my brother’s keeper,” said Cohn. “I would not be standing here tonight if it were not for the help my father received from Jews and non-Jews.”

“It should be clear that never again should people remain silent,” said Israeli Ambassador Miriam Ziv in her remarks. “The greatest tribute we can give to those who died is to educate those of the future, so it never happens again.”

During the evening, school children in procession laid white carnations as a symbol of hope, and haunting music was performed by Musica Hebraica. Cantor Pinchas Levinson sang “Kel Maleh Rachamim” and “Kaddish.”

Carleton University student Zane Colt spoke about his participation in the 2009 March of the Living and how it has continued to affect him years later.

“I learned on the trip that, when you hear a witness, you become a

witness as well,” said Zane. “I arrived home very eager to pass on my newfound knowledge to whoever will listen, and have made it my goal to educate those who are unaware.”

He said he wears a chai necklace as “a reminder to me and to those who see it on me that I am here. I am a Jew and I’m not going anywhere.

We are not going anywhere.”

There was also a moving ceremony in which six memorial candles – each representing one million Jews murdered in the Holocaust – were lit by Holocaust survivors while Shoah Committee member Howard Strauss narrated their individual stories of loss and survival.

Lighting the candles were Tibor Egervari, Elena Keen, Raoul Korngold, Joe Lichtenstein and Judy Young Drache. The sixth candle was lit by Diana Andai, the daughter of Ferenc Andai, who was ill and unable to attend.

The Shoah (Holocaust) Committee of Ottawa welcomes new members. Children of survivors are especially welcome to join. For information, contact Sarah Beutel at 613-798-4696, ext. 253.

The National Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony was held April 23 at the Canadian War Museum. A report will be published in the May 21 edition of the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin.

Correction A name was misspelled in a headline in the April 23 issue of the Bulletin. The correct headline is “Kivi Bernhard, Sam Glaser to headline JET’s Jewish Unity Live event.”

May 7, 2012 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – Page 3

Jewish Family Services Jewish Family Services (JFS) is a leader in creative collaboration and outreach within the Jewish and broader Ottawa communities. Our close connection with individuals and families who are isolated, marginalized and/or disenfranchised means we are often the first to know about emerging needs.

JFS draws on our collective experiences. We see clearly what life is like for newcomers, those living in poverty, families with special needs, the unemployed, and seniors struggling to remain independent.

Last year, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa allocated $350,000 from its Annual Campaign to JFS, which helps support the following four programs: • Thelma Steinman Senior Support Services is dedicated to assisting Jewish seniors who wish to remain in the community and live at home. JFS has a Memory Day program for those in the early stages of dementia. The program is infused with Jewish culture and

tradition and offers home visits, kosher meals on wheels, and holiday events to alleviate isolation while engaging Jewish seniors to the best of their ability.

• JFS works directly with victims of the Shoah assisting them with applications to The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. This support to our community’s most vulnerable helps secure necessary financial resources needed to improve their living conditions and helps reduce their physical suffering to ensure all survivors live life with dignity.

• School Counselling Services are available through Ottawa’s Jewish school system and provide a safe place for students to go to seek help for challenges they may face. Many seek assistance for normal developmental challenges, while others may be dealing with death, divorce, bullying, and how to build relationships with peers. Our trained and qualified counsellors are available at a moment’s notice to assist students with whatever they may need.

• The Tikvah (Hope) Program provides advocacy to other social services agencies and support services. Helping people access the Ontario Disability Supplement Program or Ontario Works or dealing with tenant-landlord issues, crisis intervention and social work counselling for Jewish low income individuals and families are all services available to those who seek assistance through the Tikvah Program.

A critical element of the program is financial assistance and food relief to low income Jewish people. Imagine keeping kosher and paying rent on $580 a month budget, which is what a single individual on Ontario Works (welfare) receives.

For many of the hundreds who turn to Tikvah for assistance and support, JFS is their only connection to community.

In addition to the areas funded by the Federation, JFS’s reach permeates the entire city. JFS is recognized by all levels of government as a social service innovator and centre of excellence.

• The Engaging Immigrant Senior Project assists seniors from seven ethnic

communities in Ottawa on how to age at home successfully.

The programs and services offered by the Thelma Steinman Senior Services Program to the Jewish community are now being replicated and offered in their communities of isolated seniors in a culturally and linguistically sensitive manner.

• The JFS Counselling Group has become a leader in counselling services in the city, offering a full range of counselling and support services for children, individuals, couples and families with JFS receiving referrals from doctors and other health providers. The Victims Quick Response Program offered through Ottawa Police Services recognizes the JFS Counselling Group as a confidential and reliable organization advocating for victims and witnesses of crime.

For more information about Jewish Family Services and their programs, please call (613) 722-2225 or visit www.jfs.com.

Page 4 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

Louise Rachlis celebrates milestone birthday with book to help others

By Benita Baker “For my 65th birthday last February, I wanted to create a book to help others,” said retired Ottawa Citizen writer Louise Rachlis, a frequent contributor to the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin.

“I’m not big on parties, but I wanted to think of something special to do to mark the milestone.”

She asked 65 friends to help her compile an inspirational log for travelling through life. The result is Feeling Good: Life Lessons from my Friends, a book containing 40 inspiring life stories. Proceeds from the book will be donated to

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Parkinson Society Ottawa in honour of her daughter, Diana Rachlis.

“It was wonderful of my friends to be so frank about their experiences and advice,” said Rachlis. “I believe their stories show that everyone has challenges, everyone struggles, and attitude is a huge factor in having a happy life.”

The stories cover a range of topics that highlight accomplishment, overcoming obstacles, athletic achievement and volunteering.

“I think the book shows that every one of us has a story, and every one of us has a struggle,” said Rachlis. “We often look at others and think they have it easy, and that’s just not true.

“Everyone has something to overcome, even if it’s the fear of moving ahead. I think that positive attitude and perseverance can really make the difference between success and

failure, and happiness and unhappiness.”

Diane Koven did not hesitate to make her contribution to the book.

“I was not surprised that Louise chose to create a book for her special birthday,” said Koven.

“She marks every occasion, small or large, with something special and unique.”

“Louise doing a book with friend’s comments is her way of wanting us all to be included in her life,” added Manny Agulnik.

An avid runner, Rachlis and her running friends celebrate summer birthdays with a swim in Meech Lake.

Rachlis liked the idea of marking a milestone birthday with a special event, but, since her birthday is in February, an outdoor swim was not in the cards.

“As runners, we celebrate new age categories,” she said. “This book is my

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celebration of a new age category.”

It was all done very quickly. The book was written in December, edited in January, designed in February and published in March – for no other reason than because that’s the way she is used to getting things done.

Chris Macknie, a friend and long-time co-worker at the Citizen, volunteered to design the book and, rather than use a traditional publisher, Rachlis decided to go with print-on-demand through on-line publisher CreateSpace.com.

As for dedicating the book to her daughter Diana and donating the proceeds to the Parkinson Society, it was an easy decision.

“My daughter Diana, who lives in Ottawa, is 38 and was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s in her mid-30s,” said Rachlis.

Proceeds from Louise Rachlis’ book, Feeling Good: Life Lessons from my Friends, will benefit Parkinson Society Ottawa.

“It is so frustrating for me not to be able to do anything about that, and so I do what I can. I fundraise for the Parkinson SuperWalk in September and I’m a board member of Parkinson Society Ottawa. I know all the good work the non-profit organization does to provide information, support

and fund research, and so proceeds from the book let me help them assist people further. I am using my writing powers for good.”

Feeling Good: Life Lessons from my Friends is available for $10 on the CreateSpace e-store www.createspace.com/3830 323 and at Amazon.com.

May 7, 2012 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – Page 5

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, first published on October 22, 1937, is celebrating our 75th anniversary this year. Each issue in 2012 will feature a reprint from our past. Our communitywide Chanukah edition will include a special supplement looking back on our first 75 years.

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Page 6 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

Powering a vibrant Jewish community The Jewish community is about “We, not me.” Combining the synergy of the best volunteers and leaders in the community with adequate funding, we ensure the continued growth of a vibrant Jewish community in Ottawa. The Resource Development (RD) Committee’s mandate is to ensure the Jewish Federation of Ottawa has the best lay leaders, volunteers and funding to provide the programs and services to meet the needs of our community.

The RD Committee in 2011/2012 has focused on fostering lay leadership and revitalizing the Annual Campaign. While donated funds that provide the resources to run our philanthropic organizations are vital to our success, the act of donating one’s time and energy is something that can be appreciated on a different level.

The Jewish Leadership Development Institute (JLDI) offers lay leaders opportunities to explore and develop their personal Jewish leadership skills and style. JLDI is committed to promoting Jewish leadership education, leadership opportunities and leadership recognition. JLDI offers classes, training, networking and placement across the Jewish community. While the JLDI program has

Federation Report Phil Stein Resource Development been dormant in the past few years, the RD Committee is working on relaunching it in the fall of 2012.

Tzedakah is a core value of Judaism.

While the literal translation is ‘righteousness,’ it has become the symbol of charity and is an important part of spiritual life. The Jewish Federation of Ottawa Annual Campaign, in conjunction with the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation, is the philanthropic engine of Ottawa’s Jewish community fuelling our community’s programs and services at levels that would be difficult to achieve independently.

Do you know how the proceeds of the Annual Campaign are making a difference in our community? Here are a few examples of your donations at work: • Through funding to Birthright Israel,

74 young adults from Ottawa strengthened their Jewish identities by visiting Israel; • Through funding to Hillel Lodge’s feeding program, 25 residents who require individual attention and assistance in order to ensure proper nutrition, receive one-onone feeding assistance; • Through funding to Tamir’s Judaic Outreach program, cultural and religious programs are provided to meet the needs of developmentally disabled individuals and their families; • Through funding to the Ottawa Torah Centre, nearly 5,000 students in Ottawa’s public and Jewish schools participated in Jewish cultural, social and educational programming; • Through funding to NCSY, 200 Jewish students from seven public high schools participate in Jewish Culture clubs.

We recognize that fundraising campaigns need periodic improvement to ensure they remain relevant and meaningful. Our Annual Campaign is no different. So the RD committee, along with Federation campaign staff, has launched a program to improve the donor experience and ensure Ottawa’s Jewish community continues to have the necessary

funds for our future.

The campaign improvement program is a donor-centric program intended to make giving easier and more meaningful. The program is taking shape and will be rolled out for the 2013 campaign. Some of the areas targeted for enhancement include: • Campaign communication – more regular communication on how your individual donations are making a difference in the community; • Canvasser revitalization – to attract and retain motivated canvassers to enhance the donor experience.

• Outreach to the emerging generation (18- to 35-year-olds) – who represent the future leaders of our community. We are exploring better ways to leverage social networking to reach out and also to align the Ask with their core values; • Making giving easier – rethinking the current process and making it simpler to donate.

Ottawa’s Jewish community is growing and vibrant and we are working to ensure the appropriate funding and cadre of leaders and volunteers are there to serve the community, now and for years to come.

Education, spirituality and how we treat each other are key to our survival The survey of Ottawa’s Jewish community being conducted by the Jewish Federation of Ottawa raises several questions. While I can see how the survey could be an important tool for community planning, as a rabbi, I was troubled by some parts of it.

The wording of certain questions could leave a respondent feeling invalidated as a Jew. Consider question 20: “Did you ever receive any type of Jewish education, such as attending a Jewish day school, a program within a public school, weekend/afternoon school, or private tutoring?” If you answered yes, then question 21 made sense: “Which of the following did you attend as a child?” If you answered no, asking this question could lead the respondent to feel the community values only those who had some form of Jewish education. As a rabbi, I believe we need to make everyone feel welcome irrespective of their Jewish background. Perhaps, the survey should have instructed those who responded “no” to question 20 to skip 21.

Question 12, on participation in religious activities, also left me wondering. The question asks people to indicate how often they participate in religious events surrounding Passover, the High Holidays and Chanukah. I began to wonder whether these expressions of Jewish religious observance should, in any way, define our Jewish religious practice or identity. As a communal leader, I would also like people to know I am interested in how and when they pray. Do they meditate? Is personal prayer as important to them as communal prayer? How does Shabbat fit into their lifestyle? And does their observance of Shabbat fit into classical or traditional models

From the pulpit Rabbi Scott Rosenberg Beth Shalom or do they validate and find meaning in Shabbat using other methods and experiences?

What about chesed, engaging in acts of loving kindness and community improvement?

For me, this is a critical aspect of religious expression. What about the sanctity of language and the way we interact with our families, neighbours and friends? Is our world filled with gossip or does kindness guide our thoughts and speech? Does our approach to food and nutrition reflect Jewish thinking and living? I am not speaking only about kashrut, but do we care about where our food comes from and how the workers who laboured to bring our food to market are treated?

My list of questions is broader than those that can be included in a community survey.

As Jews in 2012, I believe we are obligated to be more open and expansive in our thinking. We have to elicit opinions and approaches to our Jewish mission through personal interactions and outreach. Surveys are impersonal at best and bothersome at worst. If I want to truly understand what people are thinking, I need to invite them into a conversation that is non-judgmental and open to ideas, beliefs and opinions that may be different from mine. Our community is diverse and creating a respectful sense of welcome is es-

sential for our survival. A conversation over coffee or a gathering of friends in someone’s home with the presence and participation of our communal leaders will better define our strategic needs than any survey. I would welcome any such conversation.

More than 2,000 years ago, Simon the Just projected an image for Jewish continuity and communal stability. He taught, “The world stands on three things: on the Torah, on Divine worship, and on acts of loving kindness.”

When I think of this teaching, the image of a world balanced on a tripod comes to mind. For that world to be stable, each leg

needs to support equal weight. If one leg is removed, the world will fall. As a Jewish community, we must constantly be aware of the delicate balance that keeps our Jewish world operating. Jewish life is not all about any one of these major categories, it is about the balance between knowledge, spirituality and interpersonal understanding.

Our communal future lies in how we validate the importance of all three pillars of our faith. Education, spirituality and how we treat each other was and is the key to our survival.

Getting this message out and investing in its outcome will pave the way to a bright future for our community.

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May 7, 2012 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – Page 7

This is a fascinating time for Ottawa’s synagogues From news reports to speculation, suggestions and clarifications in columns, guest columns and letters-to-the-editor, there has been much written in the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin in recent months about the future of several of Ottawa’s major synagogues.

Among the current situations is Temple Israel’s need to relocate. Ottawa’s Reform congregation long ago outgrew its synagogue building on Prince of Wales Drive, which was built in the 1970s to accommodate 100 families. The congregation now numbers about 360 families. There were discussions that Temple Israel would sell its building and erect a new one on the Jewish Community Campus, but an accommodation could not be reached with the campus and Temple Israel is looking at other options.

Congregation Machzikei Hadas – the most venerable of Ottawa’s Orthodox congregations with a history stretching back more than a century – is faced with a demographic problem as the Jewish community has continued to shift west. Fewer and fewer Jews are living in the Alta Vista area, where Machzikei Hadas shifted to almost four decades ago because the community had largely moved away from the Sandy Hill area. The congregation’s history in its current Virginia Drive location is just a decade shorter than the halfcentury it spent at the corner of Murray

Editor Michael Regenstreif Street and King Edward Avenue.

Congregation Beth Shalom also needs to relocate, having sold its property on Chapel Street. At the time of the sale, the Conservative congregation indicated that one of its preferred options would be to move to Ottawa’s west end, possibly to the Jewish Community Campus.

Finally, Agudath Israel Congregation has been engaged in a search for new clergy.

With the possibility of Beth Shalom moving to the west end, Bulletin columnist Jason Moscovitz asked, “Does Ottawa really need two Conservative synagogues five minutes away from each other? (How can synagogues best serve their congregations, and the community-at-large? March 29)” and speculated on the possibility of a merger between Beth Shalom and Agudath Israel.

I would also point out that Ottawa has a small, third Conservative congregation in that five-minute zone – the lay-led Adath Shalom Congregation which meets

on the Jewish Community Campus in the school building (and in the Joseph and Rose Ages Family Building for High Holidays and larger services for bar and bat mitzvahs).

We’ve recently learned that Agudath Israel and Beth Shalom have begun to explore the possibility of whether a merger is in the best interests of the two congregations and have struck a joint task force to determine whether or not a merger is feasible.

A letter to congregants from Jack Klein, Agudath Israel’s president, notes that synagogue mergers usually take place when congregations are in financial difficulty or because membership levels are no longer viable. “Neither is the case with our two shuls,” he wrote.

There are implications to these discussions, not the least of which is Agudath Israel’s search for new clergy – Beth Shalom has multi-year contracts in place with its clergy.

There are many issues that the joint task force will have to consider. For example, although both are Conservative congregations, Agudath Israel is a member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the mainstream Conservative organization in North America, while Beth Shalom is part of the newer, smaller Canadian Council of Conservative Synagogues. As well, Agudath Israel has

embraced egalitarianism, while Beth Shalom remains more traditional in regard to the role of women in synagogue ritual.

But, should they wish to move forward, such issues are not insurmountable.

Beth Shalom was an Orthodox congregation for most of its history and was, itself, formed in 1956 by the merger of Ottawa’s first two congregations, Adath Jeshurun, founded in 1892, and Agudath Achim, founded in 1902. A third congregation, B’nai Jacob, founded in 1910, merged into the Beth Shalom fold in 1971.

And, to show that anything is possible when it comes to synagogue mergers, two congregations in Buffalo, New York, have just announced a merger. One of the merging shuls is Reform, the other is Reconstructionist, and the merged congregation will retain its affiliations with both movements.

This is a fascinating time for Ottawa’s synagogues and we’ll continue to follow developments on all of these stories with great interest.

Jewish education in Ottawa Jewish education in Ottawa has been undergoing revitalization over the past couple of years, and we’ll have a special Ottawa Jewish Bulletin pull-out supplement highlighting developments in all of Ottawa’s Jewish schools in our next issue.

Too many politicians think they can talk their way out of any problem For politicians, there is nothing more important than being a good communicator. For voters, charisma is often important, and you can’t have charisma if you can’t communicate. This modern day model goes back to John F. Kennedy.

Politicians believe being a good communicator equals success. While that would appear to be logical, it is only partly true. To win elections, politicians do have to be good communicators; however, once in power, it is often better for them to govern quietly.

The fundamental problem with good communicators is how their ability gets to their heads. They begin to believe they can talk their way out of any problem.

U.S. President Barack Obama is good example of a politician with a gift for communicating. He won the 2008 election using his finely honed skills. Once in power, he tried to talk his way out of every bad situation. Instead, he talked his way to incredibly low approval ratings. So much so, last year, he was written off as a one-term loser.

Somewhere along the way, he and his advisers realized they were too out front on every issue. The president was too visible, too audible, too much in Americans’ faces. He retreated. His appearances were

Jason Moscovitz less frequent. The golden voice and those wonderful communication skills were used less often for maximum affect.

Today, his prospects have vastly improved for many reasons, and certainly high on the list are his less frequent outings to explain himself.

In Canada, we once had a goldenvoiced prime minister. Like Obama, Brian Mulroney believed he could use his tremendous communication skills to talk his way out of any problem. Often times, the more he talked, the bigger the problem became.

Jean Chrétien, on the other hand, had an instinct to know when to talk and when not to. He figured out journalists could do nothing with nothing. If there were a problem, and he talked, he knew he was breathing new life into the story and journalists would often add their negative twists. That is why, had he still been

prime minister, and not Paul Martin, Chrétien would never have called an inquiry into what became known as the sponsorship scandal.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper only speaks when he chooses. He may not appear as either charismatic or a great communicator, but he is a master at controlling the message. And one would have to assume he does a lot of those communication strategies by himself. That would be one possible explanation for his going through directors of communication every six months. No hired gun seems able to keep up with the master.

Harper’s news conferences are few and far between and his dealings with reporters, in less formal media availability sessions, are rare. They happen when he needs them, not when reporters want them.

The release of the federal budget in March was truly the master at work. With his January speech in Davos, Switzerland, where he foreshadowed changes to the requirements for old age security, Harper began to set the parameters of how to successfully communicate a difficult cost-cutting budget.

Apart from the Davos speech, the prime minister did not have much to say

about the budget. He left that responsibility where it belonged, with his finance minister. He neither felt a need nor did he want to get overly publicly involved.

And, yet, his fingerprints were all over the budget papers and the speech.

On budget day, most of the early reporting was about how the cuts were to spread over three years, how there was a kind of easing-in period, how there was nothing particularly mean or nasty, just what was necessary for good economic management. The key message was the budget reflected a reasonable response to the current financial situation.

The fine print, hidden away in the budget papers, which most reporters don’t have time to read on budget day, told the bare-faced details in terms of cuts and impact on services.

The budget was tabled on a Thursday.

On the Thursday and Friday, it was top story in the media. By Saturday, it was virtually gone.

And, guess what? Once again, Harper took a back seat by saying very little.

He must have analyzed the news reports and smiled as he began his search for yet another director of communications.

Page 8 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

273 Keltie Private, Barrhaven $243,900, MLS 820403 Bright multi-level open concept end unit 2 bedroom, 1.5 bathoom condominium townhome backing on single family homes. Begin here @ www.273Keltie.com!

1505-530 Laurier Avenue West, Centretown $309,000, MLS 824516 Beautifully maintained, sun-filled 2 bed, 2 bath condo w/in-suite laundry in Queen Elizabeth Towers. All inclusive condo fee w/fabulous amenities, and 24/7 onsite security! 30 day poss. www.530Laurier.com 924 Watson Street, Fairfield Heights $334,900, MLS 821850 Comfortable 3 bed, 1.5 bath bungalow w/a main level family room extension on a beautifully landscaped 61' x 114' lot, feat. hdwd floors, updated roof shingles & more! A home with a heart @ www.924Watson.com!

47 Anna Avenue, Carlington $419,000, MLS 824907 Charming 3 bed, 1.5 bath family home on a 50' x 100' lot, feat. hdwd floors, new roof shingles, gas furnace, and updated windows! Detached garage w/4+ parking.

A well built home @ www.47Anna.com!

24 Bie Street, Merivale Gardens $419,900, MLS 810398 Charming 3 bed, 1.5 bath bungalow overlooking a children's park features a sunroom addition and a two car detached garage. 100' x 150' lot! www.24Bie.com 14 Norice Street, Crestview $267,000 - $439,000 MLS 821830, 821831, 821834

Mailbag Priority should be Jewish education, not another synagogue building Jason Moscovitz asked some valuable questions in his March 19 column (How can synagogues best serve their congregations, and the community-at-large?).

Moscovitz asks, “Does Ottawa’s Jewish community not have a host of other huge priorities that need the millions that would be spent constructing a brand new, second, Conservative synagogue?”

He is right to ask the question!

I would suggest that investing in Jewish education would be a better and, ultimately, more profitable investment than investing once again in additional mortar and bricks in a city where most of our synagogues are suffering from dismal attendance.

Could Beth Shalom rise to the occasion and think beyond its concrete dreams and do what is best for the community-atlarge? With tuition costs for Jewish day and high school becoming unaffordable to many, would Beth Shalom consider the possibility of setting up a “Beth Shalom Jewish Education Foundation,” which would carry its name in perpetuity?

That would truly be an ultimate gift, one that would keep on giving and would enable many more of Ottawa’s Jewish youngsters receive a solid Jewish education through high

bulletin@ottawajewishbulletin.com school. They would learn, in depth, about their heritage, laws and customs, and develop a proud, strong Jewish identity.

Before we can expect to see shul affiliation rise above 30 per cent, we need to see a significant increase in Jewish school attendance. I believe they are linked, with Jewish education being the foundation upon which the rest is built.

If we don’t improve our priorities, Moscovitz’s questions, “Where are the babies and their parents?” and “Who is going to be sitting in those synagogues 30 years from now?” point to a frightening and urgent problem.

If not now, when?

Shelley Engel

Letters welcome Letters to the Editor are welcome if they are brief, signed, timely and of interest to our readership.

The Bulletin reserves the right to refuse, edit or condense letters.

The Mailbag column will be published as space permits.

Send your letters to Michael Regenstreif, Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, 21 Nadolny Sachs Private, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 1R9; or by e-mail to bulletin@ottawajewishbulletin.com.

Three luxurious 1 & 2 bedroom open concept condominiums, ranging between approximately 852 and 1389 sq ft with in-suite laundry and underground parking! Immediate possession! www.14Norice.com 379 Wilmont Avenue, Westboro $499,900, MLS 824944 The possibilities are grand on this 51' x 66' lot in the heart of Westboro. R3S zoning provides for a mix of residential building forms. www.379Wilmont.com 3536 Cambrian Road, Half Moon Bay $535,000, MLS 820728 Sun-filled and upgraded 4 bedroom w/2 ensuite bathrooms in choice location! This family featurepacked home boasts over 2900 sq ft with a 2nd level laundry room, a large great room and main level den.

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181 Richmond Road, Westboro $795,000, MLS 827861 Fabulous development opportunity for a retail/comm./ office or mixed-use building in a highly pedestrian oriented location. The 44.98' x 98.33' lot is generally level, fully serviced and is approx. 4423 sq ft. Survey (2008) on file. 60 day poss. www.181Richmond.com 31 Northgate Street, Centrepointe $995,000, MLS 827629 Large all-brick 4 bedroom custom Minto built home.

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(From left) Susan Marcus, president of Congregation Beit Tikvah, Rabbi Howard Finkelstein, MP Pierre Poilievre, past-president Ian Kagedan and Shoshana Kagedan at Beit Tikvah following the announcement the synagogue will receive a federal grant to install an elevator.

Elevator will make Beit Tikvah more accessible Nepean-Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre visited Congregation Beit Tikvah of Ottawa, April 18, to announce a $50,000 grant from the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund. The program is aimed at increasing accessibility for people with disabilities allowing them to participate more fully in their communities.

The grant will enable the synagogue to install an elevator. The congregation hopes to complete the project by September.

Poilievre said he was inspired to help with the project after meeting Ian Kagedan, a past president of Beit Tikvah. Kagedan has been confined to a wheelchair since 2008 because of a neu-

rological disease. Since then, he has only been able to participate in ceremonies and celebrations on the synagogue’s main floor, excluding him from many events. Kagedan’s situation brought to light the lack of accessibility in the synagogue and the congregation soon rallied together to start the process of raising funds to install an elevator.

“It has been difficult for Ian and me, as well as others with mobility issue, not being able to participate in the social, cultural and celebratory gatherings downstairs in our synagogue,” said Kagedan’s wife, Shoshana. “This announcement brings us tremendous joy because we will now be able to join the rest of the congregation, fully able to ac-

cess all of the synagogue’s offerings.

This is a great move towards our synagogue’s goal of enabling all to fully share in the life of our community.”

“It is important to us at Beit Tikvah to view everyone as capable and participatory, no matter what the limitations of their physical abilities,” said Susan Marcus, president of Beit Tikvah. “I am very grateful to the Government of Canada for these vital funds that will allow us to make the necessary changes to our building – so that in every aspect of our synagogue life we can be united, strengthening not only our community, but our ability to contribute to the greater Ottawa community as never before.”

May 7, 2012 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – Page 9 Advertorial

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND Oliver Javanpour president

OJCS day for bubbies, zaidies and other special friends

By Sara-Lynne Levine Ottawa Jewish Community School In Ottawa Jewish Bulletin articles over the past several months, we have been telling you about the many changes taking place at the Ottawa Jewish Community School (OJCS). Improvements in curriculum, administrative process, communication, morale and technology have resulted in a school we are proud of and ready to show off.

On Monday, May 14, we’ll open our doors to some

very special guests when we hold our first Grandparents’ and Special Persons’ Day. We’re looking forward to kvelling and schepping naches about what great students we have at OJCS. Popular in many American day schools, Grandparents’ Day is a chance for nanas, grandpas, bubbies, zaidies, sabas and saftas to see their grandchildren in action at school. It’s a great way to let grandparents see the classrooms, meet the teachers and see how their grandchildren are learning

English, French and Hebrew.

We realize that not everyone’s grandparents can attend, which is why we broadened the day to include special people or persons, including parents, babysitters, friends and coaches – anyone who is important to our students. The point of the day is for our students to share their school experience with someone important, and to show off the great new things happening at OJCS. The day will include regular classes, so our guests can see how and where our stu-

dents learn. As well as a light breakfast, the day will include school tours, slide shows and a chance to chat with our school leadership team.

To learn more about the great things happening at OJCS, contact us at 613722-0020, ext. 327, or sl.levine@theojcs.ca.

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On a daily basis you can plant trees for all occasions. An attractive card is sent to the recipient.

To order, call the JNF office (613.798.2411).

OJCS high school students Joshua Allen (left) and Elana Fogel (right), seen here with teacher and program adviser Scott Croteau, received awards for their success in the University of Waterloo Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing contest.

-

Holocaust Remembrance Day JNF marked Holocaust Remembrance Day this year with a special delegation of the KKL-JNF Board of Directors headed by KKL-JNF World Chairman Efi Stenzler spending five days in Poland visiting Holocaust sites. At the end of their trip, they joined the March of the Living, which was also marking KKL-JNF’s 110th anniversary.

Eleven thousand participants from 55 countries participated in the march.

KKL-JNF also marked Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel with a ceremony held in Martyrs’ Forest in the Scrolls of Fire Plaza organized in collaboration with the B’nai B’rith World Center.

The Martyrs’ Forest, a joint project of KKL-JNF and B’nai B’rith, memorializes the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust with six million trees planted in 1951 in the picturesque Jerusalem Mountains near Moshav Kesalon. At the pinnacle of the forest stand the “Scrolls of Fire” by renowned sculptor Nathan Rapoport, which depicts the destruction of the Jewish people in the Holocaust and their redemption in the State of Israel. In honour of the 80th anniversary of the founding of Aliyat Hanoar (Youth Aliyah), this year’s ceremony in the Forest marked the heroism of two outstanding rescuers: Recha Freier and Josef Itai.

Recha Freier founded Youth Aliyah in Berlin, which provided the framework for saving the lives of 7,000 Jewish children during the Holocaust, primarily through immigration to Palestine. Recha continued her work under the Nazi regime, until 1940, when she was forced to cross the Austrian border to Yugoslavia with her 11-year-old daughter following an altercation with Adolf Eichmann.

Joseph Itai, a Yugoslavian, worked with Freier to care for German and Austrian children who had escaped to Zagreb. He led a group of about 100 children and adults through Yugoslavia and Italy, successfully leading them across the border to Switzerland in October 1943. He arrived in Palestine in June 1945, where he presented the children to Recha, keeping the promise he had made to her four-and-a-half years earlier.

The Martyrs’ Forest is also home to the very moving Anne Frank Memorial Site, built by KKL-JNF about a year ago, on the initiative and with the support of KKL-JNF Holland. Although Anne’s beloved chestnut tree is no more, Holocaust survivor Piet Cohen’s sculpture at the memorial site commemorates it and tries to capture the feeling it must have given her. A very large cube, the sculpture represents the room where Anne hid from the Nazis with her family. It has three open sides with a fourth side representing her chestnut tree. In a corner across from the tree, there is a large seat that gives you the feeling of being a child looking at the tree through a window, just as Anne did.

The trees of the Martyrs’ Forest, and the memories of Anne’s chestnut, are reminders of the many who died, but are also a symbol that we live on. Trees, eternally green memorial candles that they are, are symbols of our strength and our resilience.

/

More than trees 613.798.2411

Page 10 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

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For more info please go to www.templeisraelottawa.ca 1301 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, ON K2C 1N2 www.templeisraelottawa.ca 613-224-1802

Major scientific studies underway at Weizmann Institute in Israel

By Sharon Letovsky for Weizmann Canada We all visit Israel and, on our first trip, we are sure to take in the sights: the Old City, Masada, the Dead Sea, a kibbutz or two; you know the drill.

Maybe, on the second trip, we want something different, so we visit Petra or even go so far as to experience Pesach in a Bedouin tent in the Negev. But we miss something astounding, if we don’t go to Rehovot and spend some time at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Like most people, I had heard of the institute, but, also like most people, I had no concept of the magnitude of the work done there and its impact on humanity.

The Weizmann Institute is one of the world’s topranked multidisciplinary institutions. It is home to 2,700 scientists, students, technicians and support staff, from Israel and from around the world, working on more than 1,200 research projects. People who visit are absolutely blown away.

At the Weizmann Institute, scientists research new ways of fighting disease and hunger, examine leading questions in mathematics and computer science, probe the physics of matter and the

The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel is one of the world’s foremost scientific research centres.

universe, and even develop new strategies for protecting the environment.

Have you heard of some of the recent breakthroughs

by Weizmann scientists?

Professor Irun Cohen developed a treatment for Type 1 diabetes that, in recent clinical trials, gave participants significantly higher pancreas function than the control group. In other studies, a tiny nano-surgeon has been shown to kill cancer in a lab dish. And, for the last decade, a patch of trees has been part of the global effort

to understand and predict future climate change.

The Weizmann Institute offers educational programs to students in Canada, such as Math-by-Mail and threeweek summer scholarships for high school students.

There are also exchange opportunities for university students from around the world and degree programs at the master’s and doctoral levels.

The Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science, known as Weizmann Canada, was founded

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in 1964 and is part of a worldwide network. Every two years, the international family of Weizmann scientists, supporters and friends comes together for the Weizmann Global Gathering. The 2012 gathering is taking place this week in Montreal and includes three evenings of celebration, scientific presentations on the latest research, walking and culinary tours and intimate cocktail parties offering the opportunity to talk with the scientists in person. Ottawa is being represented at the gathering by board members from our local Weizmann Canada chapter and we will be sure to bring you a full report of all the exciting things we saw and learned.

You might want to consider adding the Weizmann Institute to the itinerary on your next trip to Israel. Staff at Weizmann Canada will work with you to plan tours for individuals or groups.

Just call the office at 1-800387-3894.

Many people who have visited the Weizmann Institute say it is a life-changing experience, one that will fill you with pride and hope for the future, for our people, for all of humankind, and for our planet. For more information, visit weizmann.ca or www.weizmann.ac.il.

May 7, 2012 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – Page 11

A great Pesach experience in Panama City

By Chelsea Sauvé Searching for an international volunteer opportunity that would be an interesting and intriguing experience, I made contact with an organization in Bocas del Toro, Panama, in need of volunteers to facilitate a preschool designed for the children of the indigenous population.

Excited at the prospect of working with the children, I soon found myself on a stopover at the Newark, New Jersey airport awaiting my flight to Panama City. While stopovers can be a nuisance, this one brought me the great fortune of experiencing the Jewish community of Panama.

Boarding the plane for the flight to Panama, I began talking with a young woman named Alexandra. I learned she was on her way home to Panama after spending six months attending a girls’ seminary in Jerusalem. Chatting during the flight, I also discovered Alexandra had studied in Canada before she went to Israel.

Arriving at the Toucamen National Airport, Alexandra invited me to spend Pesach with her family, should I still be in Panama at the start of the chag.

Since I had planned to be home by Pesach, I thanked her and said that we would be in touch.

The next day, I made my way to Bocas del Toro, a set

Chelsea Sauvé with preschoolers in Bahia Honda, Panama.

of islands that are home to the Ngöbe-Buglé indigenous peoples of Panama.

There, I worked with the Bahia Honda community, teaching in the local preschool, experiencing the community’s unique culture and environment, boating from island to island, and living alongside sloths and snakes.

I was so enjoying the experience that, before I knew it, Pesach was just a week away. I contacted Alexandra and accepted her generous invitation to her family’s seders in Panama City.

Having only ever attended my own family’s seders, I was eager to experience an authentic Sephardic Pesach with Alexandra and her family. As it turned out, their seders were lively, rich in tradition and filled with laughter and good conversa-

tion. I was pleasantly surprised to find that many of our seder traditions were the same – including my family’s favourite, “Echad mi Yodaya.”

Given Alexandra’s family’s Persian heritage, there were also many customs that were new to me, including an alternative way to sing “Dayenu.” Without an initial explanation, Alexandra’s family members began to circle the table as they sang the lyrics, simultaneously whacking one another with green onions! Later, I learned this was in remembrance of the Jews beaten by whips as slaves in Pharaoh’s Egypt. Let’s just say I’ll be investing in green onions for Pesach 2013. I think my brother and cousins will enjoy this tradition!

Alexandra and her fami-

What’s happening at

Congregation Beth Shalom Every Sunday

Rabbi’s Lecture Series

9:30-10:30 am

Rashi on the Torah

ly told me about the rich history of Panama’s Jewish community – a history of which they have every reason to be proud.

Concentrated in Panama City, the Jewish community

totals about 10,000 people – including about 7,000 of Sephardic descent – mostly originating in Syria and Morocco – and about 3,000 of Ashkenazic descent.

In Panama, Jewish identity is central and is an integral part of the community’s strength. There are many thriving Jewish institutions in Panama City, including the Jewish high school, which serves 1,400 Jewish teenagers; the national Jewish youth group, Maccabi, which is home to hundreds of teenagers, including many members of the nationally recognized Jewish boys’ football team; and the rikud dance team.

While many young Panamanian Jews go to the United States, Canada and Israel for their post-secondary education, the majority return home after

graduation. With nine synagogues, two large kosher supermarkets – Super Kosher is reportedly the largest kosher supermarket outside Israel – more than 10 fashionable kosher restaurants frequented by young adults, and an abundance of Jewish cultural activities, young Panamanian Jews have every reason to return to home.

Following my visit with Alexandra’s family, I returned home, impressed by the Panamanian Jewish community and inspired by their capacity to empower young people with a love for Judaism. I also returned with the knowledge that it is not the size of a Jewish community that determines its strength; it is the community’s commitment to Judaism, and to the value of l’dor v’dor.

games • prizes • entertainment • information

First Sunday each Month Rabbi’s Lecture Series 10:30-11:30 am

Critical Thinkers of the Conservative Movement

Saturday, May 12

Youth Shabbat Program with Jennifer Spivock

10:00-11:30 am

Songs, Crafts and Torah

Friday, June 15

Community Traditional Shabbat Dinner

Watch for more upcoming events

6:00 pm

Everyone is Welcome!

Everyone is Welcome!

Watch for more upcoming events

For more information, please contact the synagogue at 613-789-3501 or info@bethshalom.ca www.bethshalom.ca

For more information contact OSC at (613) 238-1513 or visit www.ottawasafetycouncil.ca (All activities are free of charge)

Page 12 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

A meaningful winter vacation in Israel

By Simmy Gardner and Linda Slotin for JNF CAARI Program Since 1983, more than 3,000 retirees from Canada and the United States have skipped the classic ritual of heading to Florida or Palm Springs for the winter, choosing, instead, to spend the season in Israel on the Canadian American Active Retirees in Israel (CAARI) program of the Jewish National Fund (JNF).

Susan Horwitz and Nahum Eisenstadt are the program’s co-directors. Their spirit, enthusiasm and knowledge bring this program to life, creating a bond among the participants.

Eisenstadt’s knowledge of the cultural, historical and political landscape of Israel is a highlight of the program’s tours.

The CAARI program is a unique work, educational and touring program in Israel. Participants choose program options from two to seven weeks with key elements including communi-

Canadian CAARI participants during a tour of the City of David in Jerusalem.

ty service, touring, a speakers’ forum, JNF forest work and special events.

Community service is held in Tel Aviv for four weeks. Participants spend three or four mornings per

week, tutoring English at elementary schools, working with patients at local medical centres, assisting in community organizations and maintaining JNF forests.

The program is designed for healthy, active people.

Participants must be able to walk up to a half mile, and climb approximately 50 steps and must be able to get on and off a bus unaided.

Linda Slotin teaches English to 10-year-olds at a Tel Aviv elementary school as part of her CAARI community service.

Susan Horwitz will be in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 19 and will speak about the 2013 CAARI program – CAARI’s 30th year – at 7:30 pm at the Soloway Jewish Community Centre.

For information on our personal experiences with the CAARI program, call Simmy Gardner at 613-7226195, Linda Slotin at 613226-3311, or Judi Hoffman at 613-680-0620.

May 7, 2012 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – Page 13

Canadian Aboriginal leaders on mission to Israel (JTA) – Thirty young aboriginal leaders from Canada were in Israel this past week to study culture and society in the Jewish state.

The Youth Leadership Development Mission to Israel took place from April 29 to May 6.

Under the auspices of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, the First Nations leaders visited Christian and Jewish holy sites, studied the Israeli immigrant absorption experience and skated at Israel’s only full-sized hockey rink, located at the Canada Centre in Metulla.

The group also met with the Galilee branch of Kav Hazinuk (The Starting Line), an Israeli youth leadership development program funded by Partnership2gether, which includes the Jewish Federation of Ottawa.

“The objective of this trip is to help develop leaders among First Nations youth,” said mission leader Ron Evans, chief of the

Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba, before departure. “I visited Israel for the first time last year and I was overwhelmingly inspired. The Jewish people are the historic, indigenous people of Israel. For Canada’s First Nations, Israel’s story demonstrates how an ancient people can maintain their heritage while embracing the modern world and, in so doing, achieve self-determination.”

By studying the Israeli experience, “these highly motivated youth will return to their communities empowered with additional knowledge and leadership tools,” added Shelley Faintuch, community relations director for the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg and an associate director of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

“The future of Canada’s First Nations depends on building the next generation of ambitious, dynamic and innovative First Nations leaders. Our goal is to support this important project,” Faintuch said.

Online petition urges IOC to honour Munich 11 (JTA) – An online petition urging the International Olympic Committee to honour the Munich 11 at the Olympic Games this summer has garnered thousands of signatures.

The Jewish Community Center of Rockland County, N.Y., a member of the JCC Association, initiated the petition, which calls for a moment of silence at the Games in London honouring the 11 Israeli athletes who were murdered at the 1972 Olympics in Munich by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September. The Jewish Federations of North America is asking communities to support the petition, which is attempting to gather one million signatures.

“The Jewish community centre movement is deeply involved in an effort to create a worldwide viral response to a wrong that has not been addressed since 1972,” said JCC Association President and CEO Allan Finkelstein.

“Let us finally get the Munich 11 the acknowledgment and respect they deserve from the international sports community,” added Finkelstein.

PointsPlus™ 2012 is here!

The JCC Association has recognized the Munich 11 during every Maccabi Games since 1995.

In an official letter sent to the International Olympic Committee on April 23, Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Danny Ayalon asked on behalf of the State of Israel for the 2012 Games to open with a moment of silence honouring the 11 Israeli athletes. Ayalon gave copies of the letter to widows of the murdered athletes, and also expressed support for a petition they initiated calling for a minute of silence.

The petition can be accessed at tinyurl.com/Munich11.

NCSY trip Thirty-three Jewish teens from Ottawa and Toronto spent March Break on an NCSY trip to Washington and Baltimore, touring and learning with a particular emphasis on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. They’re seen here at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

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Page 14 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

March of the Living departure

Walkathon kickoff Hot 89.9 FM’s Mauler, Jenni and Rush, seen here with some excited Grade 3 girls, visited the Ottawa Jewish Community School, April 17, to help kick off the campaign for the Am Echad Walkathon in support of Jewish education in Ottawa on Sunday, June 10.

Ottawa’s contingent of high school students en route to Poland and Israel for the March of the Living at the airport prior to departure, April 15: (front row, from left) Hannah Berdowski, Abbey Jacobson, Jaclyn Friedlich, Dayna Zunder, Charlotte Hamburg; (second row) Hannah Silver, Tori Vered, Shira Benlolo, Sabrina Engel, Alexa Wyczynski; (back row) Benita Siemiatycki (March of the Living Ottawa co-ordinator), Karen Palayew (chaperon), Jordan Molot, Cody Miller, Samuel Morgan, Nathan Cantor, Bram Taylor, Jacob Silverman, Evan Zelikovitz (chaperon), Dr. Allan Shefrin (trip physician).

A report on their journey will be published in an upcoming issue of the Bulletin.

SJCC basketball Team Kentucky are the 2011-2012 Soloway Jewish Community Centre Men’s Basketball League champs. (From left) Reuben Goldberg, Michael Levine (finals MVP), Gavi Stulberg (league scoring champ), Rad Fox, Jonathan Katz (team captain), Yaakov Fox, Geoff Gruson and Ian “Bruiser” Sadinsky.

PJ Library pyjama party Children, along with parents and grandparents, celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut in advance at the PJ Library pyjama party, April 22, at Congregation Beth Shalom.

The kids made Israeli flags, ate blue and white cupcakes, sang Hebrew songs and, of course, read a book about visiting Israel. The event was co-hosted by Congregation Beth Shalom and PJ Library.

The children also collected new children’s pyjamas, which were donated to needy families. For information about PJ Library, visit pjlibrary.org or call 613-798-4644.

(Photo: Benita Siemiatycki)

May is Jewish Heritage Month in Ontario

June 15, 2012 Deal valid with this ad.

Bill 17, the Jewish Heritage Month Act, a private member’s bill put forward by MPP Mike Colle (Eglinton-Lawrence) and co-sponsored by MPPs Peter Sherman (Thornhill) and Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale-High Park), received royal assent from the lieutenant-governor on April 24.

The Bill designates May as Jewish Heritage Month in order to honour the significant achievements of Jewish Canadians across Ontario.

May 7, 2012 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – Page 15

Temple Israel dedicates three new Torah mantles Three High Holy Day Torah mantles, created by artist Temma Gentles to honour the memory of John Holzman, Irwin “Irv” Singer and John Sosnow, were dedicated March 31 at Temple Israel. (From left) Steve Mendelsohn, Cliff Sosnow and Lorne Rachlis with the Torah mantle created in memory of John Sosnow.

(Photos: Robin Chernick)

Page 16 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

Guest Column

An image of what might still be Editor’s note: Daniel Gordis is the Koret Distinguished Fellow at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem. One of Israel’s most respected commentators, he is the author of 10 books and his columns appear regularly in the Jerusalem Post and New York Times. He is also a dynamic speaker and will give the keynote address at the Jewish Federation of Ottawa Annual Campaign launch, September 9, at Centrepointe Theatre.

By Daniel Gordis There are still those unexpected moments here [in Israel], fleeting and infrequent though they may be … moments worth reflecting on, and sharing.

Some three years ago, an anonymous donor gave the Shalem Center (where I work) a generous grant to offer liberal arts enrichment programming to the country’s top high school students. Schools weren’t challenging the best kids, we knew; most of what they learned was being taught for the bagrut matriculation exams, and intellectual curiosity wasn’t being cultivated. So we assembled a staff of superb teachers and counsellors and designed a program in which students would come to a handful of weekends a year and study Zionism, or Bible, or democracy.

Our staff set out to find the students.

Across the country, they visited the best high schools, met with the principals and other educational heads, and then interviewed the students. There was great interest – but also suspicion.

“The kids are interested, but parents are afraid of us,” one told me when she got back to the office.

“Afraid of what?” I asked.

Turns out we’d sent two teachers, one with a kippah and one without. Virtually all the parents were secular. “What’s with the kippah?” they wanted to know. And how can the pro-

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gram be free of charge? There’s simply got to be an agenda here, the parents said.

Thankfully, a few threw caution to the wind and let us have their kids for a few weekends a year. The seminars met in places relevant to the subjects – in Caesarea for “Thinking from the Beginning,” in Jerusalem for “The Bible and Us” and in Arad for “A Jewish and Democratic State.”

Each weekend included study of a variety of texts on the subject at hand: Bible or Talmud; Plato or Aristotle; Nietzsche or Freud; Rousseau and Geertz. Quickly, the students saw that the Bible and Aristotle were part of the same conversation – about great ideas, about the life meaningfully lived, about the good and the just, about what truly matters. They learned to huddle over texts and to argue – but to listen, as well. What they loved was that none of this mattered for the bagrut, and that there were no right answers. All that mattered was that they thought.

One of their teachers was the sort of person these secular kids never meet. He lives across the Green Line in a small community, in what the international press would call a “settlement,” has a whole bunch of kids – and he’s a remarkable teacher with as open and engaging a mind as one could ever hope to encounter. Perhaps he was the one who scared the parents, but these kids came to adore him, as well as his wife and children.

A leading university scholar opened each seminar. I recall one particular professor, who’d walked in obviously wondering how he could have been cajoled into teaching a bunch of high school kids on a Friday afternoon. Within an hour, though, there he was, exchanging ideas and even arguing with these students, the passion and the energy overflowing the room. The kids didn’t let go, and walked him to his taxi at the conclusion of his session, still trying to get a response to one last question. As he got into the cab, smiling and exhausted, he seemed 20 years younger.

Three years went by. Very few students dropped out. They got busier in Grade 11, but kept showing up. By Grade 12, most had two feet out the door of their home and their high school, but they continued to attend. And, then, we had a graduation ceremony of sorts. The staff decided that what we should do is show the parents what we’d done for these three years. So they assembled a set of texts, from Genesis, Maimonides and Kierkegaard – and had the students and their parents study in pairs, just as the kids had done for years now.

There was only one problem in each of the groups that I joined for a few minutes – the kids had to elbow their way back into the conversation. These parents, the same ones who’d wondered what our agenda was or why we would actually teach their kids for free and with no religious or political axe to grind, left no space for their children in the conversation.

At one point, one of the young women about to graduate high school said, “Ima, you should let us speak, too. Why are you taking over the conversation?”

It didn’t stop the mother, though. “Because it’s interesting,” she said. “I always loved this stuff.”

So, why had life in Israel led her to drop the conversation? I wondered.

Daniel Gordis

I stood at the side, watching. A room full of more than 100 people, all of them huddled over Genesis and Kierkegaard.

Kids tussling with their parents, parents pushing back, saying, “No, I don’t think that’s what the Tanach means here.”

Scarcely a kippah in the room – just Jewish texts in dialogue with Western texts and with modern Israelis. I saw the students getting up periodically and hugging the children of this teacher – religiously and politically they came from different worlds, and now they were in tears at bidding farewell.

“You changed my child’s life,” more than one parent said to us that night. Perhaps.

But, as I walked home in the afterglow of the learning and the tears and the thanks, I wondered if we’d also begun to change the country. What if each of these young people remembers, years from now, what it was like to bridge gaps – political and religious, generational and dispositional, and many others – to think together, to study, to wonder, to imagine? What if someone picks up the ball from here and touches not dozens, but hundreds? Or thousands? What could these kids then make of this country? How would public discourse be different? What kinds of leaders would they demand, and become? And what kind of a country would they cultivate?

Imagine. Just imagine.

The Ottawa Jewish Historical Society invites you to hear

Prof. Rebecca Margolis speak about

Yiddish in Ottawa – Yesterday and Today on

Robert Horwitz

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May 7, 2012 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – Page 17

60 Minutes slammed over segment on Christians in Israel and the West Bank (JTA) – Thousands of Christian and Jewish supporters of Israel have bombarded CBS executives with complaints about a 60 Minutes segment that blamed Israel for the exodus of Christians from the West Bank and Jerusalem.

In the segment that aired April 22, correspondent Bob Simon, Palestinian Christian leaders and others blamed Israel and the settlements for Christians leaving cities such as Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and Christians United For Israel (CUFI) asked their members to send messages to CBS executives to complain about the segment.

JFNA’s action alert, sent before the segment aired, read: “We hope that CBS will be flooded with responses through their inboxes, Facebook, Twitter and mail after the program to express

discontent if it is as biased as we anticipate.”

CUFI told its supporters in a Twitter message April 23 that “Sunday night 60 Minutes blamed Israel for Christian flight from the Middle East. Join me in telling them the truth.”

CUFI tweeted later in the day that more than 22,000 supporters had contacted 60 Minutes over the segment.

In the segment, Simon says that “Palestinian Christians, once a powerful minority, are becoming the invisible people, squeezed between a growing Muslim majority and burgeoning Israeli settlements. Israel has occupied the West Bank for 45 years.”

The segment quoted Israeli journalist Ari Shavit as saying “Israel is not persecuting Christians as Christians. The Christians in the Holy Land suffer from Israeli policies that are a result of the overall tragic sit-

uation. And this, of course, has consequences for everybody.”

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren is quoted as saying that Christians are leaving the West Bank due to Islamic extremism. The segment takes Oren to task for calling Jeff Fager, the head of CBS News and executive producer of 60 Minutes, before the segment ran to make sure that the story would not be a “hatchet job.”

“It seemed to me outrageous. Completely incomprehensible that, at a time when these communities, Christian communities throughout the Middle East, are being oppressed and massacred, when churches are being burnt, when one of the great stories in history is unfolding, that 60 Minutes would focus on Christians in Israel,” Oren told Simon in the segment.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren interviewed by Bob Simon during the 60 Minutes segment on Christians in Israel and the West Bank.

Simon said that “I’ve been doing this a long time.

And I’ve received lots of reactions from just about everyone I’ve done stories about. But I’ve never gotten a reaction before from a story that hasn’t been broadcast yet.”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything, Bob,” Oren responded.

Page 18 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

Barack Obama outlines Holocaust lessons that are both particular and universal

By Ron Kampeas Washington (JTA) – One by one, e-mails from the White House arrived on Monday, April 23, each highlighting a unique initiative toward a different corner of the globe: Syria; Iran; Uganda.

The unifying factor was U.S. President Barack Obama’s appearance that day at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, and, together, the seemingly disparate issues underscored a message carefully calibrated by top White House officials: The Holocaust was uniquely a crime against the Jews, and its lessons for today are realized both in protecting Israel and preventing atrocities from being inflicted on any other people.

Obama threaded the themes together in his speech at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum following a tour guided by Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust memoirist and Nobel laureate.

The president segued from the uniqueness of the Holocaust to the threats facing Jews and Israel today.

“When efforts are made to equate Zionism to racism, we reject them,” Obama said.

“When international fora single out Israel with unfair resolutions, we vote against them.

When attempts are made to delegitimize the State of Israel, we oppose them. When faced with a regime that threatens global security and denies the Holocaust and threatens to de-

stroy Israel, the United States will do everything in our power to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.”

Obama then transitioned to the threats facing others. “‘Never again’ is a challenge to societies,” he said. “We’re joined today by communities who’ve made it your mission to prevent mass atrocities in our time.”

The two-part message – protecting Israel, preventing atrocities – was reflected in the makeup of the audience, a mix of leaders of Jewish groups and groups that have advocated for other populations under threat, including Bosnians and the Sudanese.

Obama’s nod to the Holocaust’s uniqueness and how its trauma shaped his sensitivities to other peoples facing atrocities is not new. But, in tying the threats facing Israel to the Holocaust, he seemed to be trying to address a perception among some Israeli and Jewish communal leaders that he does not get how Israel figures into post-Holocaust Jewish thinking.

Wiesel, introducing Obama, gave voice to Jewish concerns about Iran’s potentially genocidal intentions toward Israel.

“How is it that the Holocaust’s number one denier, Ahmadinejad, is still a president?”

Wiesel asked. “He who threatens to use nuclear weapons – to use nuclear weapons to destroy the Jewish state. We must know that,

when evil has power, it is almost too late.”

While Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly expressed the desire to see Israel excised from the region, he has not explicitly threatened to use nuclear weapons against the Jewish state. Nevertheless, Israeli leaders have cited the rhetoric of Iranian leaders as evidence that the Islamic Republic cannot be allowed nuclear weapons.

Wiesel later made explicit the connection between Israel’s posture and the Holocaust.

“Now, I hope you understand in this place why Israel is so important,” he said, “not only to the Jew that I am, but to the world. Israel cannot not remember; and, because it remembers, it must be strong just to defend its own survival and its own destiny.”

Obama made it clear that he heard Wiesel’s concerns.

“As we walked through this exhibit, Elie and I were talking as we looked at the unhappy record of the State Department and so many officials here in the United States during those years,” he said. “And he asked, ‘What would you do?’”

Obama recalled telling an American woman he met while touring Israel’s Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem, in 2008 – when he was a candidate – “I would always be there for Israel.”

Repeating that message seemed aimed at

assuaging worries expressed by Israeli leaders that Israel stands alone in perceiving the potential of genocide in Iran’s belligerence.

“People who dismiss the Iranian threat as a whim or an exaggeration have learned nothing from the Holocaust,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in his own Holocaust remembrance message the week before.

“To cower from speaking the uncomfortable truth – that, today, like then, there are those who want to destroy millions of Jewish people – that is to belittle the Holocaust, that is to offend its victims and that is to ignore the lessons.”

Daniel Mariaschin, executive vice-president of B’nai B’rith International, said that Obama’s citing the threats facing Jews was a welcome development.

“This is the first speech that connected the dots on the current threats together with Holocaust remembrance,” he said. “You had delegitimization [of Israel], you had the Iran issue.”

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League and a Holocaust survivor, said Obama’s speech was important for underscoring how “Never again” emerged from a Jewish tragedy. He also said Obama’s speech would help push back against accusations Israeli leaders like Netanyahu and Presi(Continued on page 19)

57th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING THE BESS AND MOE GREENBERG FAMILY HILLEL LODGE / OTTAWA JEWISH HOME FOR THE AGED THE JOSEPH AND INEZ ZELIKOVITZ LONG TERM CARE CENTRE, 10 NADOLNY SACHS PRIVATE

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 2012 - 7:00 pm Members of the Lodge and Community, Residents, Families, Staff and Volunteers are welcome to attend

BUSINESS AGENDA Annual General Meeting • • • • • •

Adoption of Annual General Meeting minutes – May 24, 2011 Business Arising – from previous AGM, May 24, 2011 Greetings from the Jewish Federation of Ottawa – D. Halton-Weiss Approval of actions taken by the 2011/2012 Board Treasurer’s Report – A. Freed Appointment of the Auditors 2012

• • • • • •

Appointment of the Signatories 2012/2013 Thank you to Outgoing Board Members – S. Mender Report of the Nominating Committee – J. Miller Election of incoming Board 2012/2013 Award winners 2011/2012 – J. Miller Thank you to Long Service Staff – S. Schneiderman

• • • •

Medical Director’s Report – Dr. D. Levine Report of the President – S. Mender Executive Director’s Report – S. Schneiderman Thank you to Outgoing President – R. Kronick

BOARD OF DIRECTORS - 2012/2013 NOMINATIONS Jack Cramer Golda Feig Melanie Fremeth Rosalie Schwartz

(2) (2) (2) (2)

COMPLETING TERM Alan Freed (1) Adina Libin (1) Carl Raskin (1) David Spring (1)

COMMENCING NEW TERM Russell Kronick (2) Esther Kwavnick (2) Michel Lipski (2) Seymour Mender (2) Stephen Saslove (2) Issie Scarowsky (2)

OUTGOING MEMBERS Estelle Gunner Ingrid Levitz Jeff Miller Jason Moscovitz Ozzie Silverman

BOARD APPOINTEES: Auxiliary Representative - to be determined • Hillel Lodge Long-Term Care Foundation Representative • Eric Weiner

EXECUTIVE Past President - Seymour Mender President - Russell Kronick

1st Vice-President - David Spring 2nd Vice-President - Michel Lipski

Treasurer - Stephen Saslove Secretary - Issie Scarowsky Member-at-Large - Esther Kwavnick

PAST PRESIDENTS Seymour Mender Jeff Miller Ingrid Levitz Anna Telner Wex Morris Kimmel Eric Weiner Melane Hotz Shlomo Mayman Irving Greenberg z”l Noreen Bosloy Dr. Irwin Pencer Lillian Kimmel z”l

Dennis Newton z”l Sylvia Goldblatt z”l, M. Sidney Green z”l Theodore Metrick z”l Dan Doctor z”l Dr. M. Ralph Berke z”l Ben Levin z”l Dr. Joseph Greenblatt z”l Samuel Berger z”l Judge J.C. Horwitz z”l Dora Lithwick z”l

FURTHER NOMINATIONS: Additional nominations may be made by any member in good standing of the Corporation. Such nominations may be made at any time up to fifteen (15) days prior to the date fixed for the Annual General Meeting, by mailing the same to the above address, attention: Jeff Miller. All such nominations must be in writing and signed by the nominee and by at least twenty (20) members in good standing of the Corporation.

2011/2012 AWARD WINNERS: Outstanding Service Award – Barry Hobin & Associates • Thelma Steinman Direct Service Award – Issie Scarowsky • Shalom Perel President’s Award of Merit – Jeff Miller

Refreshments to Follow

May 7, 2012 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – Page 19

Obama: We must tell our children about this evil (Continued from page 18)

dent Shimon Peres are overplaying the connection between the Iranian threat and the Holocaust.

The message of “Never again,” Foxman said, “is connected to Israel. And it is connected to Iran, not just by Elie, but by the president.”

Obama’s thinking about the Holocaust has been picked apart by the Jewish community since before his election as president.

On the one hand, Jewish U.S. President Barack Obama embraces Elie Wiesel before leaders welcomed the sensi- delivering a speech about the Holocaust and its meaning bilities of a candidate who at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, April 23.

(Photo courtesy of U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum) cited the postwar experience Obama’s thinking on genocide prevention of a great-uncle helping to liberate a Buchenhas been informed by the work of Samantha wald sub-camp.

“He returned from his service in a state of Power, a top National Security Council offishock saying little and isolating himself for cial who has noted the West’s failure to do months on end from family and friends, alone more to protect the Jews and other victims of with the painful memories that would not genocide in making the case for intervention leave his head,” Obama said during a presi- to stop modern-day atrocities.

Power, an architect of the Obama adminisdential visit to Buchenwald in July 2009, also tration’s diplomatic and military strategies in with Wiesel in attendance.

On the other hand, a speech in Cairo by the helping to topple dictators in the Ivory Coast president, delivered the day before his visit to and Libya, and in aiding the creation this year Buchenwald, raised some Jewish hackles. In of South Sudan, was named by Obama to lead that speech, addressing the Muslim world, an Atrocities Prevention Board.

The board, Obama said, would oversee efObama said that America’s bond with Israel was based on “cultural and historical ties,” as forts in a number of departments to isolate and well as “the recognition that the aspiration for confront perpetrators of atrocities.

“We’re going to institutionalize the focus a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic histoon this issue,” he said. “Across government, ry that cannot be denied.”

While the president used the opportunity to alert channels will ensure that information condemn Holocaust denial and to make the about unfolding crises – and dissenting opincase for Israel’s legitimacy – noting that ions – quickly reach decision-makers, includthreats to destroy the Jewish state evoked for ing me.”

The White House was eager to convey the Israelis memories of the Holocaust – some in the Jewish community were deeply troubled impression that the board’s agenda already was informing administration policy. Execuby the implications of his choice of words.

David Harris, the American Jewish Com- tive orders were issued banning the sale of inmittee’s executive director, said at the time formation technology to Syria and Iran that that it was “unfortunate” that Obama “implied could be used to stifle dissent in those counthat the Holocaust was the primary reason for tries.

Obama also renewed the mandate of U.S. Israel’s creation,” rather than the Jewish state military advisers counselling Uganda on the being the result of historic ties to the land.

Obama’s U.S. Holocaust Memorial Muse- pursuit of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a ramum appearance gave him an opportunity to ar- paging militia led by Joseph Kony that kidticulate more clearly his views on the Holo- naps children and rapes and murders civilians.

The president, however, has come under caust. In his speech there, the president said one message of the Holocaust is that the ca- fire by those who say he has not made good pacity to inflict harm is embedded in every- on campaign pledges to defend human rights.

In a statement after the speech, the Republican one, as is the capacity to do good.

That thinking was reflected in one of the Jewish Coalition faulted Obama for not doing directives he issued that day – recognizing Jan enough to bolster Iranian democracy activists Karski with a posthumous Presidential Medal in 2009. Conservatives and congressional Reof Freedom for the Polish resistance fighter’s publicans say Obama has shown a lack of rework providing some of the first eyewitness solve in failing to provide opponents of the Syrian regime with military support. accounts of the Nazis’ mass murder of Jews.

In his speech, Obama defended what he “We must tell our children about how this evil was allowed to happen because so many said were his successes, but said the U.S. has people succumbed to their darkest instincts, to pick and choose its battles.

Preventing atrocities, he said, “does not because so many others stood silent,” Obama said. “But, let us also tell our children about mean we intervene militarily every time there is an injustice in the world.” the Righteous Among the Nations.”

Employment Opportunity

Jewish Federation of Ottawa is seeking a Director of Hillel Ottawa The Jewish Federation of Ottawa is looking for a dynamic, self-motivated and responsible young professional. The ideal candidate is highly enthusiastic about creating a rich, vibrant and empowering Jewish student community on campus. Working closely with student leadership, s/he will build Jewish identity and Israel-related programs, plan events and create experiences throughout the academic year for Jewish students that not only attract new and returning participants, but also engage them in a meaningful way.

Knowledge Requirements • Jewish customs and values • Social media proficiency • Understanding of current national Jewish and Israel advocacy issues

Required Skills • • • • •

Strong communication and interpersonal skills Able to balance and achieve competing priorities Basic understanding and competency in fundraising Advanced computer skills Basic understanding of budgets and bookkeeping

Preferred Background • Undergraduate or graduate degree • Past leadership or participation in on-campus student programs As much a lifestyle as a job, the Director is expected to attend Hillel social functions and events, many of which take place during evenings and weekends. This position is best suited to someone with exceptional people skills as s/he will have to interact with students, campus administrators and various other stakeholders within the community. If you’re looking for an exciting and challenging position that will advance your career and improve Jewish student life, then ‘Director of Hillel Ottawa’ is the perfect job for you.

For more information or to apply please contact Jeff Bradshaw, Senior Director of Planning at jbradshaw@jewishottawa.com or by telephone at 613-798-4696 ext 297.

The Federation thanks all who express interest in this position and advises that only those selected for interviews will be contacted. For a more detailed job description, please see “Careers” at jewishottawa.com.

Deadline for applications is Tuesday, May 22, 2012.

The Ottawa Jewish Historical Society invites you and your friends to

An Evening

with Harvey Glatt “The Father of Ottawa’s Music Scene” in conversation with well-known broadcaster Ken Rockburn.

Harvey Glatt is a visionary entrepreneur, impresario and philanthropist with a great social conscience. on

Wednesday, June 6, 2012 7:30 pm Agudath Israel Syngagogue 1400 Coldrey Avenue Refreshments served

Community welcome

Page 20 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

Frank Dimant to speak on the ‘new anti-Semitism’ at Emunah program

By Leah Cohen Emunah Women of Canada The delegitimization of Israel as a Jewish state by events like Israeli Apartheid Week and, more horrifically, the recent murders of Jewish children and a rabbi at a Jewish school in Toulouse, France, are harsh reminders of the persistence of antiSemitism.

How does one understand the garb of current anti-Semitism, be it veiled in the BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) movement against Israel, or be it revealing as violence against Jews or the harassment of

Jewish students on campus?

Frank Dimant, executive vicepresident of B’nai Brith Canada and CEO of B’nai Brith’s League for Human Rights and Institute for International Affairs, will speak about the ‘new anti-Semitism’ for Emunah Women’s Family-in-Israel program on June 6.

B’nai Brith Canada carries out annual audits of anti-Semitic incidents in Canada, which provide data to government agencies. It also offers a hotline to help individual Jews in Canada who have been victims of prejudice.

Dimant was recently appointed to the federal government’s Cross-Cultural Roundtable on issues of security and writes about issues of concern on his blog, Frankly Speaking.

Emunah Women of Canada is a not-for-profit religious Zionist organization that strives to improve the lives of Israelis. Our responsibilities include caring for 8,000 children in more than 135 daycare centres; educating 2,000 girls in six vocational schools; and supporting children’s youth villages, which care for more than 1,000 children who have suffered abuse, neglect and abandonment.

In support of the Bess and Moe Greenberg Family Hillel Lodge In the Joseph and Inez Zelikovitz Long Term Care Centre Card Donations Card donations go a long way to improving the quality of life for our residents. Thank you for considering their needs and contributing to their well-being.

On behalf of the residents and their families, we extend sincere appreciation to the following individuals and families who made card donations to the Hillel Lodge Long-Term Care Foundation between April 4 and 18, 2012 inclusive.

HONOUR FUNDS Unlike a bequest or gift of life insurance, which are realized some time in the future, a named Honour Fund (i.e., endowment fund) is established during your lifetime.

By making a contribution of $1,000 or more, you can create a permanent remembrance for a loved one, honour a family member, declare what the Lodge has meant to you and/or support a cause that you believe in.

A Hillel Lodge Honour Fund is a permanent pool of capital that earns interest or income each year. This income then supports the priorities designated by you, the donor.

Ruth and Irving Aaron Family Fund In Memory of: Margaret Kulik by Ruth and Irving Aaron Bill and Leona Adler Memorial Fund In Honour of: Susan Greenberg Best wishes in your new home

by Elayne Adler, Farley, Jordan and Benjamin Stenzler Kassie-Matin Family Best wishes in your new home by Elayne Adler, Farley, Jordan and Benjamin Stenzler

Dr. Douglas Adler Congratulations on becoming a Dr. of Philosophy by Uncle Jeff, Auntie Joy, Uncle Neil, Auntie Marilyn, Uncle Farley, Auntie Elayne, cousins Kim, Julie, Jordan, Benjamin and Daniel R’fuah Shlema: Blanche Osterer by Elayne Adler, Farley, Jordan and Benjamin Stenzler Malcolm and Vera Glube Endowment Fund In Memory of: Beatrice Glube by Malcolm and Vera Glube and family Sister of Jules Nettis by Malcolm and Vera Glube In Honour of: Max and Cynthia Weinstein Congratulations on the birth of your new granddaughter by Malcolm and Vera Glube Elaine and George Citrome Congratulations on the birth of your new grandson Max by Malcolm and Vera Glube Nell Gluck Memorial Fund In Honour of: Issie Scarowsky Mazal tov on being the recipient of the Community’s Shem Tov award by Henry and Maureen Molot Carol and Stu Levine Mazal tov on the birth of your grandson Maayan by Henry and Maureen Molot Barbara Sugarman Mazal tov on your very, very special birthday with love by Henry and Maureen Molot Inez Zelikovitz Mazal tov on your 95th birthday

by Maureen Molot In Memory of: Issy Miller by Henry and Maureen Molot

Funds raised by this event will support the Neve Michael Children’s Village in Pardes Chana, home to more than 250 children from highrisk families.

Dimant will speak to Emunah’s Family-in-Israel program on Tuesday, June 5, 7:30 pm, in the first floor party room at 400 Stewart Street. Refreshments will be served.

The cost is $20 for Emunah members and $23 for non-members. All are welcome.

To RSVP, call Rivka Kraus at 613-241-5613 or send an e-mail to leahle1@yahoo.ca.

Morris and Lillian Kimmel Family Fund R’fuah Shlema: Blanche Osterer by Janet, Steve, Tobin and Aaron Kaiman Bill and Phyllis Leith Family Endowment Fund In Memory of: Doris Leibovitch by David and Lisa Leith and family Sam and Ruth Rothman Memorial Fund In Memory of: Sue Slack by Rose and Kevin Kardash Irving Taylor by Rose and Kevin Kardash In Honour of: Shelley Rothman Congratulations on the marriage of your son Stuart to Laura with love by Rose and Kevin Kardash Ralph and Anne Sternberg Memorial Fund In Observance of the Yahrzeit of: Eileen Hart by Ted Jacobsen Eileen Gardner by Stephanie Dancey R’fuah Shlema: Frannie Shier by Laya and Ted Jacobsen In Honour of: Tommy and Natalie Gussman In appreciation of dear friends for their kind generosity and valued friendship by Ted and Laya Jacobsen Harvey and Judith Slipacoff In appreciation of dear friends for their kind generosity and valued friendship by Ted and Laya Jacobsen Eric Weiner and Arlene Godfrey Family Fund In Memory of: Helen Krane by Carol and Larry Gradus ********************** Ritual Fund In Memory of: Issy Miller by Dale and Ruth Fyman In Honour of: Rabbi and Mrs. A. Fine In appreciation by Dale and Ruth Fyman

Frank Dimant (Photo courtesy B'nai Brith Canada)

R’fuah Shlema: Molly Hirsch by Dale and Ruth Fyman IN HONOUR OF: Issie Scarowsky Mazal tov on being this year’s recipient of the Shem Tov award by the Residents, Board and Staff of Hillel Lodge Sharon Glube Reichstein on being this year’s recipient of the Young Leadership award by the Residents, Board and Staff of Hillel Lodge Malka Feig Best wishes for a happy and healthy Passover with love by Cila Farber Issie Scarowsky Mazal tov on being this year’s recipient of the Thelma Steinman Direct Service Award by the Residents, Board and Staff of Hillel Lodge Jeff Miller Mazal tov on being this year’s recipient of the Shalom Perel President’s Award of Merit by the Residents, Board and Staff of Hillel Lodge Barry Hobin and Associates Mazal tov on being this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Service Award by the Residents, Board and Staff of Hillel Lodge Liane Freedman Best wishes on your special birthday by Clara Halasz IN MEMORY OF: Sue Slack by Sandy Bregman; by Marion, Jason and Erin Victor; by Bev and Mark Steinberg; and by the Litwin family Maurice Ryant by the Students and Staff of Algonquin College Minnie Milson by Albert Winer and family; by Jerry and Lily Penso; and by Dorothy and Jacob Huyer and family Harriet Greenman by the Residents, Board and Staff of Hillel Lodge Anita Dubinsky by Stanley and Amalia Winer; and by Shirley Abramsky and family Irving Taylor by Rabbi and Chevy Fine; and by Marion, Jason and Erin Victor Avi Rapoport by Marion, Jason and Erin Victor Linda Devries by Eric and Joy Weisbloom; by the Ottawa B’nai Brith Bowling League; by Gary Kugler; and by David and Sharon Appotive and family Doris Leibovitch by Gary Kugler

THE LODGE EXPRESSES ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR KIND SUPPORT AND APOLOGIZES FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS. DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS, THE WORDING APPEARING IN THE BULLETIN IS NOT NECESSARILY THE WORDING WHICH APPEARED ON THE CARD. GIVING IS RECEIVING – ATTRACTIVE CARDS AVAILABLE FOR ALL OCCASIONS Here’s a good opportunity to recognize an event or convey the appropriate sentiment to someone important to you and at the same time support the Lodge. Card orders may be given to Bev at 728-3900, extension 111, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday. You may also e-mail your orders to donations@hillel-ltc.com or online donations can be made through CanadaHelps.org. All orders must include name, address, postal code, and any message to person receiving the card; and, amount of donation, name, address and postal code of the person making the donation. Cards may be paid for by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Cheque or Cash. Contributions are tax deductible.

May 7, 2012 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – Page 21

What does it mean to care about Israel?

At my Passover seder, an elderly relative who suffers from senility was having a particularly foggy day. Although I’ve known him all my life, my grandmother, sharp as a tack into her 90s, realized the man had forgotten me. “Mira is a professor who tries to get the world to love Israel,” my Babba said.

Although she delivered it with a wink, it was an obvious jab at what she sees as my dovishness when it comes to the question of Israel.

It seems that grandmothers come up a lot when Jews discuss Israel. University of Toronto student Jenny Peto caused a small firestorm in 2010 with her controversial MA thesis on Holocaust Education, which she dedicated to her late grandmother. “If she were alive today,” Peto wrote, “she would be right there with me protesting against Israeli apartheid.”

Soon after, David Peto, her incensed brother, sought to correct that view of their grandmother in a letter to the National Post.

Grandmothers also figure in the opening sentence of Peter Beinart’s new book, The Crisis of Zionism. “I wrote this book because of my grandmother, who made me a Zionist.”

Beinart sees Zionism undergoing an intense moral and political crisis, and seeks to do everything he can to keep his beloved Jewish and democratic Israel afloat. By this, he means push for a two-state solution and an end to the highly undemocratic occupation that has plagued Israel’s moral profile for almost 45 years.

It’s clear to me from ongoing conversations with my grandmother – and with many other Jews – that the Jewish community needs to think seriously about what it means to care about Israel.

What does it mean to feel attached to a country of which

one may not be a citizen, but whose anthem one sings at community events, whose birthday one celebrates in Diaspora communities, which receives a portion of funds raised through annual Jewish Federation campaigns, to which we send our kids on Birthright, and where we may visit, live or mark our kids’ bar or bat mitzvahs?

If we truly and deeply care about Israel, do we remain silent in the face of shocking actions of brutality like the recent video clip of the IDF soldier slamming his M-16 rifle into the face of a Danish protestor? Do we attempt to silence criticism of Israeli policy with accusation of anti-Semitism? Do we decide to sign up for Israel advocacy training, so we can act as Likud government spokespeople?

Or do we chart a different path, one where we wrestle with Israel, and think deeply about the implications of its current policies for Israelis and for Palestinians? Most importantly, do we recognize that the officer who beat the Danish protestor is a symptom of the bigger problem of occupation?

I have heard people say that we shouldn’t “air our dirty laundry,” that the subject of Israel is a family affair. Surely our synagogues and other Jewish organizations represent the metaphorical family living room. But, when it comes to those venues, voices seeking to pierce the silence are few and far between.

Beinart writes that, if Israel ceased to be a liberal democratic Jewish state, “it would be one of the greatest tragedies of my life.” To that end, he calls for a boycott of settlement products from what he calls “non-democratic Israel.”

Beinart has a public voice as author of widely circulated books, editor of the new Daily Beast blog Open Zion and writer of a much-discussed 2010 article in the New York Re-

Values, Ethics, Community Mira Sucharov view of Books, where he demanded the American Jewish establishment be more responsive to the moral sensibilities of younger Jews who are being forced to “check their liberalism at the door” when it comes to engaging Israel.

Not all of us enjoy a regular public platform. But each of us can decide when to speak out, how to vote, to whom to donate money and how to talk with our kids. Those who care about Israel’s future might reconsider where their charitable efforts go.

Groups like Ameinu, the New Israel Fund, Peace Now, Rabbis for Human Rights and, in the U.S., J Street, are desperately digging in the avalanche for the keys to a democratic and Jewish Israel, keys that, some days, are being camouflaged by the dirt of occupation. The alternatives – a one-state solution or perpetual occupation – are simply not tenable, if one wants Israel to remain both democratic and Jewish.

There’s a reason why young progressive and liberal writers on Israel – from the radical left to the Zionist left – invoke their grandmothers. In different ways, these young Jews are trying to honour their ancestors’ legacy. Beinart concludes, “Either our generation will help Israel reconcile its democratic and Zionist ideals, or we will make our children choose between them.”

Mira Sucharov, an associate professor of political science at Carleton University, blogs at Haaretz.com.

Israel, Greece and Cyprus: The new Mediterranean energy axis As new players in the energy market, Israel, Greece and Cyprus are finding that entering the exclusive Middle Eastern energy world doesn’t come without some risk. Energy and environment officials from the three countries attended an energy summit held in Athens on March 28 and 29. A parallel investment summit that had the hallmarks of a who’s who of the energy investment market was also organized.

The energy exploration and consequent marketing and delivery channels developed at these meetings resulted in much closer ties and friendship among the three countries. There is continuous high-level contact among the three and initial gas exploration has led to collaboration in other types of energy sharing. It is understood that Israel is planning to extend this venture beyond gas and is devising plans to be able to export electricity via underwater high voltage cables to Cyprus and, eventually, to Greece for consumption by the European Union (EU).

Obviously, oil and gas discoveries in the Mediterranean have not gone unnoticed by the Lebanese, Hezbollah, the Syrians, the Egyptians and the Turks. Not surprisingly, and on cue, Lebanon and Hezbollah have claimed the targeted Israeli oil fields are in Lebanese territory and they will “defend” the area against any drilling by Israel. Other areas could be contested by the Syrians and the Turks, especially the oil fields near Haifa or closer to Cyprus. Turkey has also begun explorations off Northern Cyprus (Turkish occupied Cyprus) without any discussion or permission from Nicosia regarding territorial waters.

These discoveries and the forging of an energy axis among the three countries, the identification of Greece as the potential regional hub for them to be able to export their products to the European Union, as well as deteriorating relations between Turkey and Israel in the past few years, have combined to make Turkey the odd man out in this neighbourhood.

The Turks were forging an agreement between the Azeris and the Iranians to be the hub for natural gas exports to Europe. They now find themselves in competition with the ener-

World Affairs Oliver Javanpour gy axis, and sanctions against Iran have made it a lot tougher to create momentum for their venture. The EU is also far more inclined to help the Greeks to develop some financial stability than they are to buy into an Iranian-controlled natural gas supply. The Russian Gaz Gazprom is also eager to participate with the axis and has some historic presence in Cyprus. While there is a significant relationship among the Israeli, Greek and Azerbaijani governments, as well as the oil industries in these countries, these new alliances are certainly changing the dynamics of Mediterranean politics.

In early April, week-long joint military exercises, which included the United States, Israel and Greece, took place off the coasts of Israel and Cyprus. Both coasts are reachable by Hezbollah and Syrian rockets.

Israel and the United States are also preparing for the significant Austere Challenge 12 military exercises this summer.

Making matters a bit more interesting, these exercises are happening at a time during which a pre-emptive strike on Iran is being contemplated, while there is a significant push to get the Syrian regime changed.

Taking nothing for granted, a Russian guided missile de-

stroyer has arrived at the Syrian port of Tartus, reportedly to conduct exercises with Syria. Along the same lines, Russian officials have also said, “A decision has been made to deploy Russian warships near the Syrian shores on a permanent basis.” Those of you wondering why Iranian navy ships visited the Red Sea last year, holding exercises with Syria and delivering supplies via the Mediterranean Sea, can now connect the dots.

We’ve also learned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to visit Tel Aviv some time in June. Understandably, Putin would want to discuss Iran, Syria and the new Lebanon, but he will also have a significant interest in how Russia sees itself as a gas provider to the EU. Hence, Israel’s energy security and future export market is already in competition with Russia and the Iran/Turkey alliance. To be fair, the Russians, who were the first major gas supplier to the EU, conceivably do not want to lose such important market share.

Discovery of gas and, potentially, of oil in the Mediterranean Sea adds another dimension to Israel’s self-sustainability and long-term security. The prospect of continued exploration, long-term retention, development, production, and defence of these resources will be key for Israel and some of its regional neighbours.

Regional natural gas developments are important for Israel’s own energy security, but are also crucial to neighbours such as the Palestinians and the Jordanians. The discoveries have the potential to change the context of Israel’s relationships with those neighbours.

Oliver Javanpour is a senior partner at Cyrus Echo, a public policy and international relations consulting firm in Ottawa.

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Page 22 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

True confessions of a personal trainer A new client recently asked me if I really like to exercise. I told her that I actually love to exercise. I don’t exercise because I have to. I exercise because I want to.

I wasn’t always that way. Like many people, I lacked motivation and will power for many years. I had the standard excuses – too busy, too tired – and I was in denial about my weight and health issues. I’d periodically go to the gym for a few weeks. If I didn’t see immediate results, I’d stop going for months. When it came to fitness, I felt helpless and disheartened. Does that sound familiar?

I’m sharing my true confessions because I want you to know that I, too, have had struggles. I can relate to many people who find it hard to get motivated, because I’ve been there.

I vividly recall telling a colleague, a decade ago, that I was thinking about hiring a personal trainer.

“Gloria, why spend all that money, when I can tell you for free that you’re fat?” she jokingly said.

“You’re right,” I responded, “for the price of one hour of training I can have several lunches at McDonald’s.”

In retrospect, I should have hired a personal trainer. I’m not just saying that because I’m a personal trainer now. I’m saying that because I know now that it would have increased my odds of success. I would have benefited from the guidance, knowledge and support of a trainer.

I didn’t realize at the time that some of my values were screwed up. I had no qualms about spending money on junk food or meals at expensive restaurants. Similarly, I didn’t bat an eye when I spent time and money on superficial

things like shopping for new shoes or getting a haircut. Yet, when it came to investing in my own future wellness, I was a tightwad. Does that ring a bell?

About five years ago, I decided to take the road less travelled and face my fears. Rather than continue with the status quo, I made a few changes to my lifestyle – changes that I initially found difficult. For example, I admitted to myself that I was addicted to fast food and diet colas. So, I made a decision to stop going to fast food restaurants. Shortly afterwards, I also went cold turkey on soft drinks. Once I got over the initial cravings, I felt so much better.

As I began to feel better, I also began to feel worthy of investing more of my time and effort, as well as some money, in my health. So, I took the plunge and hired a personal trainer. She helped me figure out and work towards some short and long term goals. You’ve heard the expression, “If you don’t know where you’re going, then how are you going to get there?” It’s true. Working with a trainer is like having a roadmap. It makes the journey so much smoother.

Getting lean, toned and strong has given me an unexpected, incredible sense of empowerment. What an adventure it’s been, first transitioning from couch potato to fitness enthusiast and long distance runner, eventually leading running groups, and finally becoming a personal trainer. These days, I enjoy training clients one-on-one, instructing a variety of fitness classes and leading running clinics.

When I retired from the fast-paced business of hightech, I had no intention of working again. But then I found

Focus on Fitness Gloria Schwartz my new calling. I don’t really consider what I do as a fitness professional to be work. I don’t do it for the money. I do it because I am passionate about sharing my experiences and knowledge to help others who are on their journey.

It gives me great pleasure to see my clients sweat, push, pull, lift, squat and run. Their hour with me is their special time. They have my undivided attention.

My purpose is to coach them to greatness – to encourage them to be the best they can be and to see beyond their reach. I cheer them on so they can push through tough moments, safely explode through psychological and physical barriers and achieve their personal goals – regardless of age or ability.

The greatest sense of fulfilment I get as a personal trainer is when I help liberate people from self-doubt and I see them have an ‘aha!’ moment. That’s when they discover they can, literally and figuratively speaking, raise the bar.

Send your questions and comments to gloria.schwartz@rogers.com.

Professor’s research sheds light on pogroms of 1941 An email from Myron Momryk, one of the co-ordinators of the Ukrainian Genealogy Group in Ottawa, informed me of a conference, Jewish Life and Death in the Soviet Union during World War II, taking place at the University of Toronto’s Centre for Jewish Studies from March 24 to 26.

One of the subjects being dealt with in a two-hour session was “Pogroms in 1941: New Research,” in which three academics were to present papers. One of the speakers would be John-Paul Himka of the University of Alberta, whose presentation was billed, “What happened in Hrymailiv in July of 1941? Investigations and Memories of Violence in Small-Town Galicia.”

I couldn’t believe it. Hrymailiv is the current Ukrainian name for the town of Grzymalow (Polish) or Rimalov (Yiddish). As the birthplace of my father and many of my ancestors, this town has been the focus of my research since I began pursuing genealogy. I knew then that I would be heading down the 401 to Toronto for the conference.

Accompanied by my sister and brother-in-law who live in the Toronto area, I arrived for the Sunday afternoon session to find about 200 people in attendance. The first speaker was Jeffrey Kopstein of the University of Toronto. His research attempted to explain why, in a six-week period

Watch for the special section on Jewish Education in Ottawa in the May 21 edition of the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin.

Connecting the branches John Diener around July 1941, pogroms took place in 124 shtetlach in the region, while there were no pogroms in about 800 others. What conditions existed in those 124 shtetlach that caused the locals to turn on their Jewish neighbours?

Kopstein’s analysis showed there was a greater likelihood of a pogrom taking place where there were higher concentrations of Jews and where the town’s Jewish population supported the local Zionist parties. Of course, the Germans had arrived in the area, had armed the locals and encouraged them to turn on their Jewish neighbours who were already unpopular because, during the Soviet occupation between 1939 and 1941, they were seen as accomplices to the Soviets, as many Jews did well in their dealings with the occupiers during that time. Interestingly, Kopstein pointed out that, while some Ukrainians participated actively in pogrom activities, the majority did not.

The second speaker, Wendy Lower of Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, spoke about Jewish survival in Nazi-occupied Ukraine. She challenged the popular belief that Jews gave up without a fight, and cited numerous examples of things Jews did to survive. Unfortunately, as we know, despite many heroic attempts, the Nazis were just too powerful and, despite Jewish attempts to defend themselves and to evade persecution, most of our brethren became victims.

Himka was the final speaker in the session. While we were disturbed by his findings, we were impressed with his presentation, a horrifically vivid depiction of the three days

in 1941 when Grzymalow’s pogrom took place.

He began with the Shabbat morning of July 5 when hundreds of the town’s Jews were shot and killed. He continued describing events of the next day, when many more were brought to the lake beside the mill, herded onto the bridge, pushed off and shot at from above and from the shoreline.

Other Jews were forced into the water to retrieve the dead and dying and put them on carts for transport to the cemetery. At the cemetery, many of the Jews who had manned the carts were also shot and killed. New crews were then enlisted and, after providing the labour, met the same fate.

About 500 Jews, mostly young men, died in Grzymalow over the three days. We couldn’t stop imagining our father, who would have been 15 then, witnessing this happening around him.

After the talk, my sister and I spoke with Himka and told him we were children of a survivor who had been there during the brutality, who survived those three days and many more atrocities that took place over the next few years.

I asked if I could have access to Himka’s research and he e-mailed his 15-page report, which presented his findings in much more detail. He cited various sources, including investigations of war crimes that took place after the Soviets recaptured the area towards the War’s end. I was amazed to see that one of the witnesses was my father’s cousin. I also recognized other names I have come across while researching my family tree. Himka has promised to send me more materials and I have sent him much of the personal research on the town that I have done over the years.

While I cannot say we enjoyed participating in the session in Toronto, it was eye-opening and revealing. Although my father never talked about those three days in 1941 in detail, he did tell us that it turned very bad for the local Jewish population when the townspeople turned on their Jewish neighbours.

I am so grateful that Himka selected our shtetl for his case study and hope to add his work to the website memorializing the Jews of Grzymalow.

May 7, 2012 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – Page 23

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Page 24 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

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LISE AND MARK THAW FAMILY FUND Happy Passover to: Barbara and Gerald Thaw; by Gail and Stan Hitzig and family; by Andy and Joany Katz and family; by Elsa and Norman Swedko and family; by Dorothy Nadolny and family; and by Lise, Mark, Alayna and Bryan Thaw.

MIRIAM AND LOUIS WEINER ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Helen Krane by Miriam Weiner.

SAM AND HELENE ZARET MEMORIAL FUND Birthday wishes to: Lynn Shabinsky by Debi and Neil Zaret.

ZIPES KARANOFSKY FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND Mazal Tov to: Irving and Esther Kulik on the engagement of their son Sean to Becky Etches by Rick and Helen Zipes.

THE WOMEN’S COLLECTIVE PHILANTHROPY PROGRAM Providing support for services and programs that directly benefit women and children.

THE SAUL AND EDNA GOLDFARB B’NAI MITZVAH PROGRAM STACEY SAMANTHA KATZ B’NAI MITZVAH FUND In memory of: Sylvia (Sue) Slack by Andy and Joany Katz.

EYAL PODOLSKY B’NAI MITZVAH FUND R’fuah Shlemah to: Rabbi Mendelsohn by Rony and Dekel Podolsky.

IRVING AND HARRIET SLONE ENDOWMENT FUND Birthday wishes to: Irving Slone by Blossom Read.

JACK AND LINDA SMITH ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Joel Salus by Linda Smith.

Birthday wishes to: Leiba Krantzberg by Leslie and Maureen Smith.

IRVING AND ETHEL TAYLOR ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Irving Taylor by Joani and Mark Richardson; by Norm Leckie and family; by Arlene and Gary Bonn; and by Andy and Joany Katz.

JONATHAN, MATTHEW AND ADAM SHERMAN B’NAI MITZVAH FUND Mazal Tov to: Bram and Chani Bregman on being honoured by Torah Academy by Randi, Ian, Jonathan, Matthew and Adam Sherman.

Contributions may be made online at www.OJCF.ca or by contacting Jessica Borenstein at 613-798-4696 extension 274, Monday to Friday or by email at donation@ojcf.ca. Attractive cards are sent to convey the appropriate sentiments. All donations are acknowledged with a charitable receipt. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Amex.

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May 7, 2012 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – Page 25

Made with Love

Reality show addiction My name is Cindy and I’m a reality show addict. Now, before you rush to judge me, hear me out. It’s not all reality shows. I don’t watch the really trashy ones. I guess trashy is a matter of opinion, but I’m talking about all shows about real housewives, Kardashians, bachelors and such. But, if those happen to be your guilty pleasure, I promise not to think any less of you!

I just don’t like watching conflict! Heck, I can barely handle conflict in my own life. Watching other people fight and be nasty to each other makes me very uncomfortable. I am embarrassed for them, even if they don’t have the good sense to be embarrassed for themselves.

The kinds of reality shows I love involve some kind of actual skill or knowledge. My two favourites are Project Runway and Top Chef.

Project Runway is pure fantasy for me. I have never been able to sew. When I took home economics in junior high school – OK, now I’m really dating myself – Miss Summerskill made me rip out every seam I sewed and had me redo them until they were perfectly straight. I used the seam ripper more than the sewing machine. So, when I watch these contestants whip up gorgeous creations in a mere 24 hours, I am

in awe, and more than just a just a little envious.

I love watching Top Chef because I used to cook in a professional kitchen and know how difficult it is to cook under such tight timelines. I’m sure I would cave under that pressure and deflate like a poorly executed soufflÊ. And, if I’m being perfectly honest, the fact that some of the chefs are very cute doesn’t hurt the cause!

Season nine of Top Chef just finished airing last month. I years old. This is a wonderful cookbook, targeted not only at have been a loyal fan right from the very beginning. If you are diabetics but anyone who is health conscious, who doesn’t a Top Chef fan as well, then you will know that season two want to follow a fad diet, but does want to eat great real food featured one of the food world’s biggest heartthrobs, Chef on a regular basis.

Sam Talbot. If you are not a fan, go Google him!

Lemon Ricotta Hot Cakes But, make no mistake.

Chef Sam is not just a pretty From The Sweet Life: Diabetes Without Boundaries by Sam Talbot. face. He has the cooking chops to back it up. He just Serves 6-8 cream and egg yolks. In a medium bowl, released his first cookbook, mix together the flour, sweetener, baking The Sweet Life: Diabetes Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons powder and baking soda. Add the flour Without Boundaries. Sam 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese mixture to the ricotta mixture and mix has been living with Type 1 1 cup whole milk until combined. The batter will be slightly diabetes since he was 12 3 tablespoons almond milk lumpy.

1 tablespoon agave nectar In a small bowl, whisk the egg whites 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce until they form soft peaks. Using a rubber Chicken Thighs with Endive and Apple SautĂŠ 1 tablespoon reduced-fat sour cream spatula, fold the beaten egg whites into 3 organic cage-free eggs, separated the batter.

Slightly adapted from The Sweet Life: Diabetes Without Boundaries by Sam Talbot.

1 cup whole wheat flour Heat a medium skillet or griddle over Serves 4 bowl, combine the vinegar, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon granulated stevia extract medium-high heat and coat it with cookclub soda, apple juice, soy sauce, pepper 1 teaspoon baking powder ing spray. Working in batches, drop 1â „3 flakes, cilantro and garlic. Add the chicken, 3 tablespoons rice vinegar 1 teaspoon baking soda cup of batter per hot cake onto the skillet tossing to coat well in the marinade, then Juice of 1 lemon and cook until bubbles appear on the surcover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and 1/4 cup club soda In a large bowl, whisk together the face. Then flip the hot cakes and cook refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

1/4 cup apple juice lemon zest and juice, ricotta, milk, al- through. Repeat with the rest of the batter, Preheat the oven to 350 F. 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce mond milk, agave nectar, applesauce, sour making 8 to 10 hot cakes.

Remove the chicken from the marinade 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes and season generously with salt and black 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro pepper. Place the chicken on a baking sheet 2 garlic cloves and bake until golden brown, 18-20 min8 small boneless, skinless utes, and a meat thermometer inserted in the organic chicken thighs thickest portion of a thigh registers 160 F. Salt and freshly ground black pepper We, the family of Minnie Milson, z.l., thank everyone who has been such a profound To cook the endive and apple: In a comfort in the past weeks, after the death of our beloved mother, grandmother and great2 tablespoons Roasted Garlic Oil large skillet, heat the garlic oil over medigrandmother, Minnie Milson. We are very appreciative of the meals, the donations, the 1 red onion, thinly sliced um-high heat. When the oil begins to shimphone calls, the visits and the personal expressions of sorrow. We are especially grate1 tablespoon grated ginger mer, add the onion, ginger and garlic and ful to Hillel Lodge and its wonderful staff for the loving care Minnie received during 1 tablespoon chopped garlic cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is Chevy and Rabbi Arnie Fine her three and a half years as a resident there.

2 tablespoons agave nectar translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the agave 2 tablespoons rice vinegar nectar, vinegar and lemon juice and cook Juice of 1 lemon for 1 minute to incorporate. Add the endive, 2 cups chopped Belgian endive apple, and cilantro and cook until the apple 1 apple, peeled and diced is fork-tender, about 3 minutes.

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro Serve chicken on top of the endives and To prepare the chicken: In a large apples and enjoy.

Cindy Feingold

In Appreciation

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Page 26 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

Looking anew at a modern classic MetaMaus: A Look Inside a Modern Classic, Maus

By Art Spiegelman Pantheon 300 page book plus DVD When Maus, Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel about his father’s Holocaust experiences was published in 1986 – the second instalment of the two-volume set came out in 1991 – it met such critical acclaim the Pulitzer Prize committee created a special category to honour the book in 1992.

Two decades later, MetaMaus: A Look Inside a Modern Classic, Maus provides a rich volume of interviews and visual material to illuminate the story behind the making of Maus and Spiegelman’s reflections on being the author of such a pivotal work of American Holocaust literature.

With Maus’ commercial success, Spiegelman has had a morally fraught legacy with which to grapple, one that readers might recall is depicted in a particularly moving frame in the second volume.

Through MetaMaus, the reader is treated to family photographs and reproductions of Spiegelman’s handwritten correspondence juxtaposed with miniature versions of publishers’ initial rejection letters to Maus – fascinatingly, there were many – written transcripts of interviews with his father, Vladek; draft panels that would eventually get reworked into the final form of Maus; and impressive commentary by Spiegelman on important visual details that may have been overlooked by the reader absorbed in the prose of the original. Included with the book is a DVD of impressive additional material, including screen shots of the book matched to original audio files of interviews with Vladek.

I have long been a huge fan of Spiegelman’s work, par-

ticularly Maus. Spiegelman resisted having Maus classified as fiction – the New York Times moved it to its non-fiction bestseller list in response to Spiegelman’s letter-to-the-editor – or as being for “young adults.” But the difficult-toclassify nature of the work makes it that much more alluring and creatively engaging.

MetaMaus is structured in an interview format with questions posed by Hillary Chute, a professor of English. I found the interview aspect to be sometimes distracting with the questions often seeming more pedestrian than they needed to be. But, as the book progressed, I found the pacing improved (and, in any event, it is not the kind of book that needs to be read sequentially).

One early passage was particularly thrilling, leading me to think deeply about the whole process of immigration and the American dream in light of the tragedy of the Holocaust.

Spiegelman recounts being pressed to toss a baseball with his father.

“Neither of us would have any predisposition toward this, it was some kind of manufactured occasion for us to try to bond as father and son because my mother thought it would be a good idea. But Vladek was never supposed to end up on a Rego Park street throwing a ball. It’s only the displacements of history that dropped him from outer space to there.”

With America known as the goldene medina (golden land) among many Eastern European Jews, Spiegelman’s take about the vagaries of history is provocative.

Spiegelman’s discussions on the use of animals in Maus are also illuminating. After Adam Gopnik, writing in the New Republic (June 22, 1987), compared Spiegelman’s use of mice for Jews and cats for Germans to the 14th century

Book Review Mira Sucharov Bird’s Head Haggadah, Spiegelman, who hadn’t been aware of that work, thought the comparison “brilliant.” He also uses various other animals: pigs for Poles, a comparison that led to protests over his book in Poland; dogs for Americans, etc.

I had grown up on a steady diet of Archie comics; however, it was through Maus that I discovered the unique power of long-form comics to convey a serious, textured narrative in a unique way. Like films, they are immersive, but, like literature, they require a certain active stance on the part of the reader.

So, why did Spiegelman choose comics as the form for Maus? Mostly because he is a comic book artist and it was his natural medium when he felt compelled – for whatever personal, historical, collective and humanitarian reasons – to tell his parents’ story.

Spiegelman also cites another reason that sheds light on how the medium can illuminate the message.

“In a story that is trying to make chronological and coherent the incomprehensible, the juxtaposing of past and present insists that past and present are always present,” which, he adds, the panel form of comics is uniquely able to convey.

Reading MetaMaus, one is also given a combined pastand-present perspective, as we are able to revisit a modern classic through new lenses..

Yiddish, shmiddish! Can you imagine Reeven and Juliet?

I really enjoy Yiddish and would love to share that enjoyment with others. But, how do I do that when they do not speak the language? How do I convey both the word-forword translation and the general attitudes and assumptions of those with whom I speak Yiddish? What is the flavour of Yiddish?

I could, perhaps, refer to the many Yiddish words that English-speakers now use. But, did I have to schlep all the way here to tell you about it? I’m not kvetching it’s just my shtick. I don’t even consider it chutzpah to brag about it. Not that I want to push things too far, kenahora. Do you think I am meshuga? When I told my friend I heard he had cancer, he said, “Cancer, shmancer, as long as I have my health.”

With apologies to William Shakespeare and Wayne and Shuster, in order to transmit that flavour in English, here is a re-imagined scene from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

Caesar: I can’t sleep with all the thunder and lightening, because, every time, Calpurnia kicks me with her feet.

Calpurnia: Caesar, you look tired and it’s raining. You’re not going to work today, are you? You’ll get sick.

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Caesar: Sick, shmick, I’m going. You think I’m going to melt? When my enemies see my face, they’ll disappear.

Calpurnia: Well, it’s true your face could scare anybody. It’s a face that could sink a thousand ships. But I kept dreaming someone was kicking you and you know you’re always sorry when you don’t listen to me. Remember the last time it was raining, when I said, ‘Julie, don’t go’? You went anyway and got sick as a dog. And who had to feed you the chicken soup?

Caesar: Stop nudging me! I go because I am Caesar.

Calpurnia: Of course you’re Caesar. You think I took you for Mussolini? How many times do I have to tell you “Julie, don’t go”? Oy gevalt, are you an akshan! You’re just going on purpose because I told you, “Julie don’t go.” You always do what you want, no matter what anyone tells you.

You think you’re the Kaiser? I’m telling you, you’ll see I am right.

Caesar claps his hands on his ears and runs out while Calpurnia calls after him, “Julie don’t go! And don’t forget your umbrella!”

With further apologies, but in a more romantic vein, here is a scene with Romeo and Juliet.

Romeo: Sha! There is the tzatzke, Juliet. She is like the sun, beautiful from far away, but, when she gets closer, you have to shut your eyes. There she is, patting her The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin Publishing Co. Ltd. collects and uses your personal information primarily for the purpose of providing you with the products and services you have requested from us.

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Humour me, please Rubin Friedman cheeks. They’re so zaftig, I just want to pinch them. What is she saying?

Juliet: Romeo, Romeo, why are you named Romeo? Your father couldn’t find a nice Yiddish name like Moishe or Lebel? Only his name stands in the way of our going under the chuppah together.

Romeo: Hmmm. I could call myself Reeven.

Juliet: But he’s so good looking and so smart. After all, a latke tastes the same even if you call it a potato pancake. Yes, but a Rose always smells strong and sweet. Romeo would smell strong even if he was named Yosef, and isn’t that him I sniff out in the garden?

Romeo, are you there, there?

Romeo: Yes I am there, here.

Juliet: Oy sweetheart!

You want to know more? You could attend A Taste of Yiddish at the Soloway Jewish Community Centre on Tuesday May 15, 12:00-2:30 pm, when Die Folkshpieler will be promoting awareness of Yiddish through displays and music. Call Roslyn Wollock at 613-798-9818, ext 254.

She’ll be happy to tell you about it.

your account or to conduct market research and surveys in an effort to continually improve our product service offerings.

To enable us to more efficiently provide the products and services you have requested from us, the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin may share your personal information

with the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation and the Soloway Jewish Community Centre.

If you would like more information, or to speak to the Privacy Officer, please call 613-798-4696, ext. 256.

May 7, 2012 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – Page 27

Page 28 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 7, 2012

WHAT’S GOING ON May 7 to 20, 2012 WEEKLY EVENTS MONDAYS Motorin Munchkins for children 5 and under, sponsored by the Family Life Centre. Children must be accompanied by an adult, 9:00 am to noon. Info: 613798-9818, ext. 294.

CANDLELIGHTING BEFORE May 11 ✡ 8:01 pm May 18 ✡ 8:10 pm May 25 ✡ 8:17 pm 1st DAY OF SHAVUOT AFTER May 26 ✡ 9:22 pm 2nd DAY OF SHAVUOT May 27 ✡ AFTER 9:23 pm ✡ 8:24 pm Jun 1

TUESDAYS Mommy and Me Playgroup for babies and toddlers up to 3 years of age, Rambam Day School, 31 Nadolny Sachs Private, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. Info: 613-806-7700.

Israeli Folk Dancing, no partner necessary, Ottawa Jewish Community School, 31 Nadolny Sachs Private, 7:00 pm. Info: judy@ottawaisraelidance.ca.

WEDNESDAYS Playgroup for babies and toddlers, sponsored by the Family Life Centre. Children must be accompanied by an adult, 9:00 to 11:30 am. Info: 613-798-9818, ext. 294.

FRIDAYS Shabbat Shalom for children 5 and under, sponsored by the Family Life Centre. Children must be accompanied by an adult, 9:30 to 11:00 am. Info: 613-798-9818, ext. 294.

FRIDAY, MAY 11 Community Shabbat Dinner, sponsored by the Ottawa Torah Centre Chabad, with guest author Richard Marceau, who will speak on “Quebec & Israel: Where Two Paths Meet,” describing his tenure in Parliament, his conversion to Judaism, his experience visiting Israel, and the history of Jews in Quebec. Services at 6:45 pm, dinner at 7:30 pm, 111

For more community listings, visit jewishottawa.com Select “Click to see more months”

Lamplighters Drive. Info: 613843-7770.

Are You Feeling Holy? Ottawa Torah Centre Women's Circle’s acupuncture for body and

SATURDAY, MAY 12 Youth Shabbat, for children aged 4 and up. Songs, crafts, games, and lessons from the weekly Parasha. Congregation Beth Shalom, 151 Chapel Street, 10:00 am. Info: 613-789-3501.

TUESDAY, MAY 15 A Taste of Yiddish, display in SJCC lobby. 12:00 to 2:30 pm.

Info: 613-798-9818, ext. 254.

health, with Laurie Gordon, 111 Lamplighters Drive, 7:30 pm. Info: 613-843-7770.

COMING SOON

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 JET’s 8th Annual Jewish Unity Live Gala, featuring guest speaker Kivi Bernhard, and honouring Sabina Wasserlauf and John Kershman, and Miriam and Charles Taub. Musical entertainment by Sam Glaser, with dessert reception, National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Drive, 7:00 pm. Info: 613-7989818, ext. 247.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30 Hillel Lodge Annual General Meeting.

Everyone welcome.

10 Nadolny Sachs Private, 7:00 pm.

Info: 613-728-3900.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6 Jewish Federation of Ottawa Annual General Meeting.

Presentation of the Annual Report and Community Awards.

The entire community is welcome to attend.

7:00 pm.

Info: 613-798-4696, ext. 236.

Unless otherwise noted, activities take place at The Joseph and Rose Ages Family Building, 21 Nadolny Sachs Private.

This information is taken from the community calendar maintained by the Jewish Ottawa InfoCentre. Organizations which would like their events to be listed, no matter where they are to be held, should send the information to InfoCentre coordinator Benita Siemiatycki via e-mail at bsiemiatycki@jewishottawa.com or fax at 613-798-4695. She can also be reached by telephone at 613-798-4644. Accurate details must be provided and all events must be open to the Jewish public.

Condolences Condolences are extended to the families of: Russell Glatt Stan Gordon Gilman Fanny Gosevitz Harriet Greenman (née Hirsch) Harry Kofsky

May their memory be a blessing always.

The CONDOLENCE COLUMN is offered as a public service to the community.

There is no charge.

For a listing in this column, please call 613-798-4696, ext. 274.

Voice mail is available.

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